Peter Monro
I was brought up in Scotland and educated at Glenalmond where I learnt French and Spanish. At university in Bristol I got my degree in Spanish and Portuguese, then studied Arabic at Edinburgh university. I then taught English in Darfur in the Sudan. Returning to Britain, I taught history, English and languages and started to tutor privately.
My business career began in publishing in London, followed by promoting investment in North Africa. After which I joined IBCA, a rating agency which wrote reports on banks, countries, companies and gave them ratings – A,B,C,D. These ratings are important in the financial markets which use them extensively.
IBCA grew to be a major company recognised world wide. As director of sales and marketing, I spent twenty years travelling abroad visiting banks, companies and government ministries.
My wife Patricia has worked in the charity sector for twenty-five years, doing fund-raising and project management. Five years ago we left London for the country and built a house where we now live, near Newbury, one hour from London.
I returned to tutoring and training people from abroad in our home. Firstly, to convey thirty years of practical experience in business and learning; secondly, having taught at language schools, to show that a different approach can be both enjoyable and successful. Lastly, because this is such a lovely place to do it.