Monk was born in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, on 13 May 1917. He was awarded the OBE in 1979.[1]
He became a councillor on the Falkland Islands and initially rose to prominence when opposing moves by government minister Nicholas Ridley in 1980–1981 to negotiate a diplomatic solution to the contested sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.[2] The then Governor of the islands, Sir Rex Hunt, described as 'Churchillian' a Falklands radio broadcast by Monk on 2 January 1981.[1]
After the Falklands War of 1982, Monk was elected by Falkland Islanders to be the first Falkland Islands Government Representative in the UK, a role in which he enjoyed widespread media coverage around the world.[3]
He was once referred to as the "only real politician in the Falkland Islands".[4]
He died on 5 March 2004 in his retirement in Llanddewi Brefi, Wales.[3]