Lee Bazalgette
UWC Atlantic 1993 - 1995
From Inner-City London to a Castle in Wales
I still remember the moment I arrived at UWC Atlantic. Coming from an inner-city London school, stepping into a castle in the Welsh countryside felt surreal. It wasn’t just the dramatic change in surroundings—it was the culture. Strangers on the main path greeted me with "Hiya! How are you?" and, coming from Hackney, my first thought was: Are they trying to steal my wallet? But I soon learned that this wasn’t a trick; it was just the spirit of UWC Atlantic - openness, kindness, and a shared purpose.
During my time at AC, I was part of the Extra-Mural Centre, where we took fellow students on rock climbing adventures, kayaking in the pools and even archery. The college had a functioning inshore lifeboat and a Coast Guard unit, adding to the incredible range of experiences available to us. It was a hands-on, action-packed education unlike anything I had ever known.
One of my clearest memories is of the physics room - let’s just say that stepping back into that space years later brought back what I jokingly call "post-physics distress disorder." But beyond academics, AC was instrumental in bringing me out of my shell. I discovered there was more inside me than I ever knew. That environment—one that pushed us to grow, challenge ourselves, and connect with people from around the world—helped shape the person I am today.
After AC, I built a career in product design, spending eight years living in Sri Lanka, where I co-founded a design firm. Today, I live in West Wales, working in renewable energy and data monitoring for wind and solar farms. My path has taken many turns, but the lessons of AC - resilience, collaboration, and the power of international understanding have stayed with me every step of the way.
UWC Atlantic wasn’t just an education; it was a transformation. It showed me how to dig deeper, reach further and become a bigger expression of myself. Looking back, I see that those two years in a castle on the Welsh coast didn’t just change my perspective - they changed my life.