Rugby star Ugo Monye reveals impact of education at Lord Wandsworth College

Former England rugby international, Ugo Monye, has admitted that his time at Lord Wandsworth College near Hook changed his life.

Speaking at the college’s annual Foundation Day, Monye, who made over 240 appearances for Harlequins during his career, explained how he arrived at the College as a 13-year-old on a place funded by the Lord Wandsworth Foundation.

'I had a dream to play football for Arsenal,' he explained. 'But when I arrived at Lord Wandsworth College, I was introduced to something called rugby.'

Monye is now Patron of the Lord Wandsworth Foundation and actively raises awareness of its transformative impact on young lives.

Lord Wandsworth College was founded in 1922 as a result of a bequest by Baron Sydney Stern, who wanted to give 'a chance in life to many who might not otherwise have had it.'

The college was originally set up to educate children who had lost the support of one or both parents. At the time, it commonly supported youngsters who had become orphaned during the First World War. 104 years later, it continues to widen worlds and transform lives for more than 50 Foundationers each year, primarily affected by bereavement.

Foundation Day 2026 saw those whose lives have been boosted by the charity invited to celebrate its legacy, more than a century after its inception.

LWC Foundation Tutor, Tom Shedden spoke of the pastoral and wellbeing support on offer at the college, whilst current Foundationers revealed how LWC has provided a holistic setting which allows them to feel safe and crucially ‘seen’.

Ugo Monye described Lord Wandsworth College as an 'incubator for opportunity.'


Words echoed by LWC Head, Adam Williams, who encouraged Foundationers to seize the uncertainty of the future with the help of those around them:

'The world that our students, our Foundationers, are growing into will not reward people who simply follow instructions well. It will reward people who can orient themselves when the instructions disappear...when the path bends... when it breaks...or when it vanishes altogether. Here at LWC, we believe the most important thing we can give ayoung person is not a destination, but direction.

'To our Foundationers and your families – we are all here in this room, in this school, in this landscape to be part of your journey. It is a journey that has a beginning, a middle and an end, of course. But the best part is that the final two stages are yet to be written and that is why the Foundation exists.'

The Lord Wandsworth Foundation hopes to increase the number of places available at the College over the coming years. You can find details of its Foundation Day Appeal on the website.

March 2026