Famous ex-students
Nish Kankiwala
The Former President of Burger King International, Nish Kankiwala, is a former student of Sir George Monoux School! After successfully completing his studies at Monoux he embarked upon a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Engineering at University College, London. Nish held operational and management positions at Unilever and PepsiCo between 1995 and 2003 and in 2003 he was appointed President of Burger King International.
Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham, former star of Manchester United & Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, attended Monoux in the 1970s. Teddy left in 1972 in the last year of grammar school status. The College is currently in the process of getting in touch with Teddy to find out more about his time here.
Fred Pontin
Fred Pontin, the Founder and Managing Director of Pontins Holiday Clubs, attended Monoux between 1918 to 1922. Fred once wrote "to be successful, people must like you and you must like people", and he found this thought very helpful in his personal achievements.
Jamie Shea
Former NATO spokesman Jamie Shea, attended Monoux from 1965 to 1972. On 22 July 1999, Jamie was interviewed by the Marketing Department of Sir George Monoux College, in which he said that he has some 'very fond memories of Monoux'. Jamie studied 7 O levels (including rural biology) and three A levels in French, German and English. Jamie particularly enjoyed the extra-curricular activities and said Mr Stirrup, the Head teacher, was very influential over his career choice. His message to the current Monoux students was that 'sixth form years are the most important time of your lives - you have the time, the teachers and the opportunities. Make the most of every single one'. For the citizens of Waltham Forest he said 'I spent many happy years living in Walthamstow. The Borough even gave me a grant to study in France for which I am extremely grateful. I am also grateful for the nice article in the local press and the fact that the home base still remembers me'. He added that he would love to come back to Monoux next time he is in London and come and have a look at how well the College is doing.
Robert Barltrop
Robert Barltrop, a famous writer, attended Monoux from 1933 to 1938. Robert wrote many books relating to the area, including 'My Mother's Calling Me' which is about growing up in North East London between the wars.
Sir John Dankworth
The late Sir John Dankworth, (also known as Johnny Dankworth) the famous jazz musician, attended Monoux from 1937 to 1944. Although his career certainly hit a great tune, records at Monoux refer to his 'perverted but genuine interest in swing music'! John officially opened the new Student Centre in April 1990 and he said 'coming back to one's old school and walking around the building makes me feel like an archaeologist dating finds!'
Doug Insole
Doug Insole, who played for England's cricket team, attended Monoux from 1937 to 1944. During his time at Monoux, Doug was Captain of Monoux cricket and football teams. The records at the College praise his captaining and suggest that he was in a class of his own, being described as "outstandingly brilliant". "His batting was attractive, his fielding was faultless and he did not tire easily". The records show that not only was he Vice-Captain of tennis and table tennis, but he was also Assistant Editor of Monovian, the School newspaper.
Captain Naeem Ahmed
Captain Naeem Ahmed attended Monoux from 1984 when it was a Senior High School and left in 1988 when it was a Sixth Form College. During his time at the school he represented the school football team, captained both the cricket and rugby 1st teams, and represented Waltham Forest District in both sports and Essex County in cricket. After Monoux, Naeem, completed a BSc(Hons) and MSc in Information Technology before graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he was awarded Academy Colours for boxing and cricket. He was commissioned as an Army Infantry officer where he served for seven and a half years during which time he was deployed on four overseas operational tours of duty to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and Georgia with the United Nations as a UN Military Observer. More recently, Naeem was on the TV show Beat the Star and came very close to beating Beijing Olympic Gold medallist, James DeGale, and winning £50,000.
Mr Chips
Who is the legendary Mr Chips character in the famous book 'Goodbye Mr Chips'? Our records suggest that he was probably Monoux' Deputy Head from 1919-1924, Mr Prowse. A letter to The Times suggested that the author was a student at Monoux whose father, Mr Hilton, taught at Chapel End School. The letter states that Mr Hilton would have sent his son to the 'best local school, Monoux Grammar School'. Therefore, it is likely that the author based his book character on Mr Prowse, who served the school during the first world war and seems strongly reminiscent of Mr Chips.
Jason Burt
Jason Burt, attended Monoux from 1979 to 1981. He signed up for the army's Parachute Regiment straight after leaving school, aged only 16. Sadly, he was killed in action in the Falklands War on 12 June 1982, still a boy at the age of 17. Jason is one of the youngest soldiers to have died for his country.
Sir Alan Fersht
Professor Sir Alan Fersht is currently teaching at the University of Cambridge. Alan is famous in his field for pioneering a new chemical approach to protein engineering.
