FAMILY and friends have gathered in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to remember broadcasting icon and former Test captain Richie Benaud.Benaud, who passed away last week at the age of 84, was farewelled by his immediate family at a private funeral before a memorial was held at the Australian Golf Club, just west of Benaud’s beachside residence in Coogee.

Channel Nine commentators Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Shane Warne and Brett Lee were present, as were former players Neil Harvey, Alan Davidson, Doug Walters and Dennis Lillee.
Current Test captain Michael Clarke was also in attendance, as were media identities David Gyngell, Alan Jones, Eddie McGuire and John Fordham.
The service was led by former Test captain Brian Booth, a former teammate and close friend of Benaud.
Taylor joined Lawry, Chappell, Davidson and Harvey in saying a few words at the memorial service.
“I found Richie, right off the bat to be very generous, kind, helpful and most importantly, he didn’t judge anyone who walked into the commentary box,” Taylor said.
“He didn’t judge anyone in cricket. He gave everyone a lot of leeway. That was certainly the case with me. The only advice he gave me was ‘Mark, do it your way. That’s how you played the game, commentary is the same’.
“It’s been an absolute privilege and more importantly an absolute pleasure to get to work with Richie Benaud over the last 16 years.
“He will be missed, no doubt by all of us in cricket, and particularly the Channel Nine commentary box. He will never be forgotten.”
Benaud’s wife Daphne had last week turned down the offer of a state funeral from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, with her husband expressing a desire for it to be a low-key affair.
In lieu of flowers, Benaud’s family asked that donations be made to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and the Primary Club.