Date set for Hollioake service

Surrey have dedicated their season to Hollioake

Surrey are to hold a service of thanksgiving in July for the life of all-rounder Ben Hollioake, who died in a car crash in Australia.

The service will take place at Southwark Cathedral on Monday, 15 July at 11am.

Hollioake, 24, died when his car came off the road in Perth, Western Australia in March.

His brother, Surrey captain Adam, has yet to return from the family home, as his wife is due to give birth to their second child this month.

After victories in their opening two games, Surrey are widely regarded as the team to beat in the County Championship.

And stand-in skipper Mark Butcher said after the 10-wicket victory over Sussex last week that any trophies won this season would be a tribute to their former team-mate.

Hollioake won two Lord's finals for Surrey

"Should we manage to come away with some silverware at the end of this year I'm sure the first thing said is that it will be dedicated to Ben's memory," Butcher said.

Hollioake was one of a number of members of a star-studded Surrey team to come through the youth system at The Oval.

And it was announced on Tuesday that the club's development system has been granted Academy status by the England and Wales Cricket Board from next September.

"This is a marvellous opportunity to develop the strongest youth programme in the country," said Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon.

"Our youth system has produced players of the calibre of Thorpe, Hollioake, Stewart, Tudor, Butcher, Ward and Brown."

The Academy will be based at The Oval next season, but the club are looking to move it to a separate site in the future.

Surrey have said that they will make a permanent memorial to Hollioake and the new Academy site is one possibility.

---

Entry to the service of thanksgiving will be by ticket only and can be obtained by writing to: Carole Turner, Surrey County Cricket Club, The Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS, or by e-mail to: [e-mail]