David Stewart served as treasurer, chairman and president – the only person to hold all three roles in their 176-year history
Surrey County Cricket Club were “saddened” after the death of their former chairman and president David Stewart, who passed away after a short illness at the age of 79.
A member of the General Committee from 1995, treasurer in 1997 and then chairman of the club from 2003 to 2008 and president in 2017 and 2018, Stewart was central to the commercial transformation of Surrey CCC in the late 1990s and early part of the 21st century.
He is the only individual in the club’s 176-year history to have served as treasurer, chairman and president.
A former board member of the ECB, Stewart’s legacy at Surrey is defined by the building of the OCS Stand at the Vauxhall End of the ground and the staging agreement that guaranteed international cricket every year and made the stand’s construction possible.
Richard Thompson, chairman of Surrey County Cricket Club, said: “To have had the honour of working closely with David for over 20 years provides memories I will hold dearly.
“Having learned so much from him, I will forever be humbled by the unconditional support he offered as I followed him as chairman. He was a true friend and mentor.
“Few men have achieved so much in their lives, but remain utterly grounded, without ego or malice. David will always be judged by what he gave. Few have given more, with a legacy that will have lasting and meaningful impact. My life, as many others, were the richer for knowing David Stewart.”
The flag at the Kia Oval is being flown at half-mast in Stewart’s honour.
Meanwhile, Sam Curran, Tom Curran and Reece Topley have all signed new long-term contracts with Surrey.
The trio, currently part of England’s white-ball squad in India, have committed their futures to the Kia Oval club beyond the 2021 domestic season.
Sam and Tom Curran are both graduates of the Surrey Academy, making their first-team debuts in 2015 and 2013, respectively.
Sam was capped by the club in 2018, a year that saw him help Surrey to the County Championship title and earn his first international call-up. Still only 22, he has now played 124 times for Surrey and 34 times for England.
Twenty-six-year-old Tom was capped in 2016 and now has more than 300 wickets to his name in 156 Surrey appearances. He has played 53 times for England, having been capped in all three formats.
Left-arm seamer Topley joined Surrey in October 2019. His first season with the club saw him pick up fifteen wickets in eleven matches as a key part of the run to the Vitality Blast final.
Surrey’s Director of Cricket Alec Stewart said: “I’m very pleased Sam, Tom and Reece have all extended their contracts. They are three highly-skilled international cricketers and I look forward to seeing them play for both Surrey and England in red- and white-ball cricket for many years.”