HUNDREDS of players and spectators attended a hockey match in memory of a young player who died in a boating accident.
Charlie Hutton, a talented youngster who had future Olympic hopes, died in July after falling from a boat while sailing off the Isle of Wight.
The 14-year-old, of Rockfield Road in Oxted, died soon afterwards in hospital. He had apparently been hit by the boat's propeller.
Charlie played for Oxted Hockey Club, and the first annual Charlie Hutton Hockey Festival was held on December 15 at Whitgift School in Croydon, where he was a pupil.
Aly Osborne, Whitgift School's director of sport, said: "The day was a tremendous success.
"Charlie was an incredible hockey player who lived life with a smile on his face."
The festival involved ten junior teams of mixed ages and five senior teams, which included some Whitgift teachers and a Surrey Old Boys team with England international Darren Cheesman among its ranks.
Surrey Old Boys won the senior competition, with the junior section won by a Whitgift School team.
Their captain, George Oyebode, collected the trophy. He was one of Charlie's close friends, and also fell off the boat on the day Charlie died, but he was rescued by a crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
More than £2,000 was raised in donations on the day, which will be sent to the RNLI.
Andy Rogers, from the England Hockey's junior regional performance centre in Tonbridge, which Charlie attended, said: "The festival was superbly organised, supported and enjoyed by almost 200 hockey players who knew and played alongside Charlie.
"He was a sensational player with immense ability and potential, destined to achieve great things in the game at the very highest level."
Charlie was the youngest of three brothers. His siblings Tom and Sam will take part in the Virgin London Marathon on April 21 in his memory.
To sponsor them, and to make a donation in tribute to Charlie, visit bit.ly/RNLIfundraising
