It is with great sadness that the Enfield Over 50s Forum announces that the borough has lost one of its most well-known champions. Leader of the Forum for more than twenty years, Monty Meth celebrated his ninety-fifth birthday earlier this month but sadly passed away on 14 March. Although his health deteriorated of late, his mind and incisiveness remained as sharp as ever until the end.
Monty, born in Bethnal Green, left school at 14 and first worked as press messenger and then a photographer. He joined the Navy in 1944 and after the war resumed his career as a photographer and then feature writer. He progressed into industrial journalism and finally into corporate communications While at the Daily Mail he was promoted to industrial editor and in 1970 won News Reporter of the Year award.
During retirement, under his inspiring leadership, Enfield Over 50s Forum membership grew from 70 members in 1999 to over 6,000 and became a registered charity. Monty launched and wrote the Forum’s bimonthly newsletter and also had regular columns in our local newspapers,
Monty’s contribution to society was recognised by the Queen in her 2007 Birthday Honours for services to the community when she appointed him a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). In 2018 he was given an award for lifelong service in Enfield.
A tireless campaigner, he lobbied MPs on pensions and the triple lock; the need for fairer care costs; marched in London against the swingeing cuts imposed on local councils; organised a petition to the government for fairer funding for health and local services signed by over 10,000 residents; battled to improve public transport services to local hospitals and much more.
Monty was always supported by his wife Betty and our sympathies go out to her and her family. Monty was much loved and will be sorely missed by Enfieldians and Forum members alike.
Tony Watts — Forum Secretary (1991 – 2020)