THE Conservative MP for North East Hampshire visited Lord Wandsworth College at Long Sutton, near Odiham, for the first time last week.

Ranil Jayawardena won the North East Hampshire constituency in last year’s General Election with a near-30,000 majority over the Liberal Democrats.

After meeting Lord Wandsworth College headteacher Adam Williams and discussing their shared love of cricket, Mr Jayawardena was taken on a tour of the college by pupils Alvin Boateng (third form) and Grace Desouza (sixth form).

He also met a sixth-form economics class, who proved that political engagement in the young is alive and well with a raft of searching questions about his thoughts on the European Union and the NHS.

Mr Jayawardena was impressed with the work the college is doing with primary and secondary schools and was interested to hear of the community projects Lord Wandsworth pupils are involved with.

He was particularly moved to hear more about the college’s foundation, which helps children who have lost the support of one or both parents through death, divorce or separation and require a caring and supportive boarding environment.

Mr Williams said of the visit: “We were delighted to meet Mr Jayawardena and show him the range of experiences and opportunities here at Lord Wandsworth College. In return, he has kindly offered to host a group of our pupils at the Houses of Parliament later in the year, which is an exciting opportunity.”

Mr Jayawardena added: “It was great to visit Lord Wandsworth College and to see first hand the range of exciting community projects the students are participating in.

“I very much enjoyed my question-and-answer session with the pupils. It’s wonderful to see such a keen interest in politics and I look forward to meeting the children again in Westminster in due course.”