Bullying at LWC

“Sticks and stones

May break my bones,

But words will ever hurt me.”

Yes, that is a playground rhyme, but I wonder whether it is really a playground crime. Words do hurt and often we will remember them long after a bruise or even a broken bone has healed and been forgotten.


I would like to tell you that there was no bullying at the London Water Closet during the 1970s, when I had the misfortune to be there. It would be great if I could mention that I never took part in any bullying of other boys. I would also be happy to inform you that absolutely no bullying went on at LWC after I left. Unfortunately, none of these statements are true.

Part of the reason for the bullying in the 1970s was the laziness and general indolence of most of the teaching staff. Yes, they taught their lessons and took games, but that was about it. When a master was “on duty”, he would usually just stay in his flat, watching TV, cooking a meal or doing some other activity. The masters seemed to think that seeing and being seen around the boarding house was really infra dignitatem and a waste of their time. The Devil makes work for idle hands and boys in a boarding school have a nasty habit of finding ways to occupy their time that are not so healthy, things that do not get a report in The Sower. Perhaps the LWC’s obsession with organized sports was designed to soak up the pupils’ time and energy, so that they would not have sufficient of either to get up to any kind of mischief.


Back in the 1970s, bullying and boarding schools seemed to go hand in hand, an unholy matrimony, a dreadful duo like sleeping around and STDs. Perhaps the atmosphere, the culture and the way that things are done is rather different, now that the London Water Closet is mixed, co-ed, and there are pretty young ladies appearing all over the college. Yes, perhaps things have changed, but then again maybe they haven’t.

Luca Cella Walker committed suicide in 2025. He had been a student at LWC.

An inquest at Winchester coroner’s court heard that the school had a “bully or be bullied” culture, which had been a “formative” factor in his mental health struggles. Walker, described by his family as “kind, sensitive and calm”, had told his parents he was going to his job as a lifeguard but instead travelled to a train station, where he took his own life.

 
A spokesperson for Lord Wandsworth College said Walker was a “very well-liked and valued member of our community” remembered for “the friendships he built and the positive impact he had on those around him”. They added: “While the school was not called to give evidence in the inquest proceedings, we take any concerns about student wellbeing extremely seriously. Our school community is built on a strong culture of respect and support, reflected consistently in student feedback and independent inspection. We remain fully committed to ensuring every pupil feels safe, supported and valued.”

Yes, well, but they would say that, wouldn’t they?


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