Dave Monk, the broadcaster often called “the voice of Essex,” has died at the age of 72. Monk, who presented programmes on BBC Essex for 37 years until his retirement in 2023, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the following year and had recently announced that the disease had returned.
Monk, whose real name was David Travis, joined BBC Essex at its launch in Chelmsford in November 1986. Over his long career, he covered major milestones in the county’s history and interviewed notable figures including Sir Tony Blair, Dame Vera Lynn and Sir Paul McCartney.
Before his radio career, Monk had a varied professional life. He worked as a law lecturer and solicitor, co-owned a wine bar, and performed as a nightclub DJ in the 1970s and 1980s under his “Mad Monk” persona. Former Essex police and crime commissioner Nick Alston recalled his ability to engage people both on stage and behind the turntables.
Monk was also a deputy lieutenant for Essex and an active supporter of numerous causes. Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, described him as an “iconic figure” known not only for his broadcasting work but also for his warmth and commitment to local communities. He supported Havens Hospices, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Parkinson’s UK, and Colchester men’s health charity CHAPS, and was patron of Remus Horse Sanctuary and Open Road, a drugs and alcohol recovery service.
His involvement extended to local events such as the Dunmow Flitch Trials and the Essex Book Festival. Ros Green, the festival director, described Monk as “a passionate, enthusiastic, caring man” with a deep commitment to Essex and its people. Plans are underway to celebrate his memoirs, Whatever Happened To Dave Monk?, as part of the 2026 festival programme.
Monk’s passion for music and broadcasting shaped his approach to interviews. Alston recalled that even high-profile figures were put at ease by Monk’s preparation, humour, and in-depth knowledge of local issues. In 2011, a BBC Essex programme on family history revealed the true identity of Monk’s grandfather, a Canadian airman who died in 1916. This discovery led Monk to visit Canada and, years later, meet Emmanuel Macron at an Armistice centenary commemoration. Monk described introducing his “newly-found” grandfather to the French president as an “elating” experience in his book published earlier this year.
In September 2023, Monk signed off from BBC Essex for the final time, playing Goodbye-ee by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook. In his farewell, he told listeners: “Look after yourself, have a lot of fun, and don’t forget, the more you laugh, the more you live. Goodbye.”
