Andrew Symonds memorial service: time, speakers, Riverway Stadium, Townsville

Five of Andrew Symonds’ great cricketing mates will honour their former teammate as details of the Australian icon’s memorial service can be revealed.

Andrew Symonds’ life will be celebrated on Friday at a memorial service. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

Five of Andrew Symonds’ great cricketing mates and his favourite poet will speak at his public memorial service in Townsville on Friday.

Test wicketkeepers Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist, Australian teammate Darren Lehmann, former Queensland Bulls captain Jimmy Maher and newly appointed England white ball coach and boyhood friend Matthew Mott will speak at the public service with renowned Brisbane poet Rupert McCall reciting a poem celebrating the many stages of Symonds life.

The service, titled “Celebrating Roy,’’ will be held from 2.30pm-4pm at Riverway Stadium, Townsville and will be open to the general public.

The Queensland Cricketers Club at the Gabba will show the memorial service live while a plane has been chartered for those interested in booking a flight from Brisbane to Townsville on Friday morning and returning on Saturday.

It will be preceded by a private funeral.

Jimmy Maher and Andrew Symonds. Picture: Lucy Smith/DM

Darren Lehmann will speak at the memorial service.

Symonds died in a car crash on May 14 in a single vehicle accident outside Townsville.

The choice of speakers is reflective of many of Symonds’ closest associations in the game.

Gilchrist was endlessly captivated by Symonds’ character and strongly recommended him as commentator to Fox Cricket.

Maher was a close confidante who, like Symonds, had strong north Queensland links and they shared many successes for the Bulls.

Mott played with Symonds on the Gold Coast and the duo made headlines and announced themselves as future first class cricketers when they made a partnership of 446 in an under-19 game for the Gold Coast against South Brisbane.

Symonds lived in Townsville after his retirement as a player and would attend North Queensland Cowboys games and spend a lot of time fishing in the region.

Originally published as Andrew Symonds memorial service: time, speakers, Riverway Stadium, Townsville