In Memoriam: Robert A. G. Monks (B. 1955)

The Club is saddened to share the passing of Bob Monks (Trinity), who achieved his Blue in 1955, rowing at six, defeating ‘dead certs’ Oxford by a stunning 16 lengths.

Recalled stroke Arthur Muirhead, “The president of Oxford, who had won the previous year, was called ‘Big’ Jim MacLeod. He was an Australian who was about 12-stone-something, which gave us grounds for considerable amusement, as our crew was the heaviest ever to row in a Boat Race at that time. Bob was one of two Harvard graduates in the crew, along with Phil Du Bois at two.

Unfortunately, three weeks before the race, our president Denis Hill got chickenpox and his place was taken at three by Alan Mays-Smith. He made the crew even heavier, but fitted very well into the engine room of Bob Monks, Simon Tozer and Bill Masser, and as the crew already had a good rhythm, he settled in very quickly. If that wasn’t enough, five days before the race our bow, John Bruce, also got chickenpox! Dennis, who was already on the mend came back into the crew at bow, and that is how we raced.”

Reported The Times, ‘Near the end of the 1955 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, Bob Monks was rowing at No 6 in the “engine room” of the Cambridge boat when he felt the crew was easing off and yelled, “Pull, Goddamn you! Pull!” Since Cambridge were leading the race by what would be a record 16 lengths by the finish, and an Oxford oarsman had collapsed, this was regarded afterwards as perhaps not quite the done thing. Yet it was testimony not only to Monks’s competitive spirit and willingness to challenge established practice, but to his lifelong belief in the need for the fullest possible discharge of one’s personal capacities.’

After early careers in law and business, Bob led a movement of ‘investor activism,’ championing corporate responsibility and better corporate governance. In 1954 Bob married Millie Carnegie Sprague and they enjoyed nearly 70 years of marriage before her passing in 2023.

The 2025 Boat Race marked the 70th anniversary of their victory over Oxford, and the three surviving members of the crew, Arthur Muirhead, Bob Monks, Bill Masser were honoured at the 2025 Boat Race Dinner, with Arthur present to represent them. Bob lamented that he was unable to attend, saying, “Happily there is magnificent media coverage, so I will have the incredible opportunity to watch the whole parade. Best of Luck to all the Light Blue. Yours, Bob”

Bob passed away on April 29, 2025, aged 91. We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who mourn his passing.