A Celebration of Dave Monk with Brian Southall

Saturday 06 June 2026, 12.45pm – 1.30pm
Colchester Samaritans
Walsingham Road Community Hall, 34 Walsingham Road, Colchester, CO2 7BN

Join us as we celebrate the Essex life of ‘BBC legend’ and festival patron, Dave Monk, who sadly died last year. We will be sharing fond and funny memories, talking about his memoir, Whatever Happened to Dave Monk? and the contribution he made to Essex and Essex Book Festival.

Tickets: Free, donation to Kids Inspire or Farleigh Hospice kindly welcomed (donation links below) – both are charities which were close to Dave’s heart.

Places are limited so please reserve a space at Eventbrite.co.uk.

Copies of Dave’s memoir will be available to buy at the event.

Kids Inspire is a children’s mental health charity supporting children and families who would not otherwise be able to afford specialist trauma recovery support.
Find out more and donate here.

Farleigh Hospice provides hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across mid Essex.
Find out more and donate here.

Part of our Love & Loss day of events at Colchester Samaritans.

Whatever Happened to Dave Monk? The Essex life of a ‘BBC legend’

A few months into writing his memoir, Dave Monk received some devastating news. The recently retired BBC Essex presenter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The former solicitor, disc jockey, wine bar owner and compere had a seemingly endless stash of riveting stories to tell, so he naturally included his cancer tales.

Much of this entertaining autobiography shamelessly name drops the many fascinating individuals Dave has encountered and interviewed. He tells of his evening with a murderer, recalls his argument with a pop superstar, reveals what he said to the President of France and shares what he’s learned over the years from his favourite pastime – eavesdropping.

From family secrets to his love of dressing up, Dave tells all.

As a hugely popular presenter on BBC Essex over five decades, Dave spoke with the famous, the infamous, the happy and the miserable, delving deep into the real stories and people of the much-maligned county of Essex.

Now it’s time for Dave’s own story after decades of keeping his own counsel.

Order a copy of  Whatever Happened to Dave Monk?