History

On 31st October 1917 a meeting of Old Merchant Taylors (“OMTs”) and parents met at the Merchant Taylors Hall to “consider the most fitting method of perpetuating the memory of OMTs who have fallen in the war”. The meeting resolved “that a Committee be formed for the purpose of inviting donations to a fund to be applied as a lasting and visible record for those OMTs who have fallen in the war” with two purposes: “paying for the education of any son of an OMT who has fallen in the war or has been disabled” and the “erection of a permanent memorial”. On 31st October a new charity was registered under the War Charities 1916 Act. On 9th Feb 1922 and 13th March 1922, the Fund bought 12 acres of land in Teddington, that was for recreation and allotments that were part of the Udney Park Estate. 

The land cost £3,257 and a further £4,359 was invested to adapt them to playing fields. Further funds were raised in a new “Pavilion Fund”, which cost £5,058, including a £2,000 loan from the RFU.

The “MTS War Memorial Ground” was opened on 27th November 1922 by Viscount Cave, then the Lord Chancellor, and former WW1 Home Secretary. Among those present were two OMT Victoria Cross holders’, A.O. Pollard and J. C. Barrett. 311 fallen OMTs were commemorated. The OMTs then played their former co-tenants from Old Deer Park, Rosslyn Park FC, which ended remarkably in a 0-0 draw. The original tennis courts were also opened.

Like OMTs before them, Udney Park was graced by fine rugby players from St Mary’s Hospital RFC, notably Tuppy Owen-Smith; Captain, England (also uniquely a Wisden Cricketer of the Year) Tom Kemp; Captain, England (later President of the RFU), Edward Scott; Captain, England and JPR Williams, Wales and British & Irish Lions.

Sir Roger Bannister was a student doctor at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in 1954 when he trained for and subsequently ran the 4-minute mile, entirely during his time as a medical student when Udney Park was the St Mary’s Athletic ground. He fondly recalls visiting Udney Park in his autobiography

From 1922 Udney Park was used by the public and the tennis courts were available to hire. From the 1950s Udney Park was used increasingly by local clubs and schools; providing recreational facilities to Collis School, Newland House School, Richmond Cricket Club, many
other clubs as additional pitch capacity and a host of other local  Interest groups such as Scouts, MacMillan Cancer, summer holiday camp operators etc. The RFU also leased Udney Park on ad hoc basis for training in later years.

When Imperial College decided to sell Udney Park in 2015 Boris Johnson MP said at Mayor of London Question Time:

“I note Udney Park was donated to St Mary’s Medical School by
Lord Beaverbrook in 1937 specifically for use as rugby union pitches. It would be an absolute scandal and an outrage if that land was lost for that purpose. My general view is that you should keep green space in London and rugby pitches should be regarded as sacrosanct”.

Between 2016 and 2021 Sport England leads the National Governing Bodies in a comprehensive campaign to protect Udney Park and prevent a precedent in Planning case-law for speculators to carve-up playing fields. Sport England, Richmond Council, the Teddington Society and the Udney Park Trust pursued an expensive though victorious campaign at the Public Inquiry, defeating the speculator and proving that Udney Park was unsuitable for building. The Udney Park Trust has secured extra protection for the fields as an Asset of Community Value and Local Green Space after a High Court case. A coalition of local clubs, led by Jonathan Dunn, Chairman of Thamesians RFC, are now trying to acquire the Park and place it in Fields in Trust protection in perpetuity for amateur sport, as Beaverbrook intended.

The case for Udney Park has also been supported by numerous locally connected sporting figures, including Sir Mo Farah, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, founder of Parkrun and JPR Williams.