Chair of the OMTs Richard Brooman has provided the following strong endorsement for the Foundation's efforts to purchase Udney Park playing fields.
"A fund was created in 1917 to provide education for the sons of Old Merchant Taylors (OMTs) who had fallen in the Great War and to erect a war memorial. Land in Udney Park Road, Teddington was acquired in 1920 and the OMT War Memorial Sports Ground and pavilion were built, with a small additional loan from the RFU. OMT played Rugby and Cricket at the ground from 1922 until 1937, when they relocated to Croxley Green, to be closer to their school, which had recently moved out of the City of London. In 2011, OMT moved to Sandy Lodge, Northwood, the site of Merchant Taylors’ School.
OMT supports the Udney Park Foundation in its quest to acquire Udney Park and its surviving Pavilion as a War Memorial playing field for local community sport. The Merchant Taylors’ War Memorial Trust remains in existence and it would be fitting that the 100th anniversary of the opening of the "Old Merchant Taylors’ War Memorial Sports Ground" is celebrated with Udney Park safely protected as a Fields In Trust Centenary Field"
The chair of AHH, who are selling Udney Park, is Lord Fink. Both of his sons went to Merchant Taylor’s School - so maybe knowing of this link he might be tempted to take a role in ensuring that the OMT legacy is preserved.
Lord Cave opens pavilion in War Memorial Pavilion in 1922
1924 Lions captain played rugby for OMT at Udney Park
Political momentum for a CPO growing
The Udney Park Trust have released a ‘press release’ updating everyone on the momentum gathering for a CPO of the fields at Udney Park. Local hustings were held as a prelude to this week’s general election and the Trust raised a question regarding the future of the site. It was confirmed at the hustings that there was universal support for a CPO from all parties.
The tragedy of the War Memorial Pavilion has been revealed by arial photos taken by residents. These reveal that under the ownership of Mr Wu the building has fallen into such disrepair as to render future renovation work hugely expensive. The project had been to bring the changing rooms back into early use for the community clubs playing on these fields. There were relatively new boilers and heating systems installed just before Imperial College sold the site. The building interior had been dry – even if the changing rooms needed to be brought up to modern standards.
It is hugely disappointing to report that Udney park is now under offer from another group of investors headed up by local resident, Keith Williams.
Udney Park is an Asset of Community Value, defined in the Localism Act (2011) as "Land is an asset of community value if its main use is to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community." The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests
