I think Monarch was the last survivor "as was" of the significant independent British airlines operating when I first started getting interested around 1974. Air Anglia, Britannia, British Caledonian, BMA, Invicta, Dan-Air, BIA, BAF, Laker... Courtline had already gone... Apart form BA, the only others I can think of still operearting are Aurigny and Loganair and I think Loganair are BA aren't they?
Very sad.