Statue honouring Monty Python star Terry Jones wins A-list backing

A big thank you to the Daily Post for this Article , see HERE for original story. A Bid for Colwyn Bay statue honouring Monty Python star Terry Jones wins A-list backing Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam have launched a £120,000 appeal to fund a statue of the late Terry Jones, their friend and fellow member of Monty Python. High profile celebrities are backing the campaign for the bronze memorial in Jones' native Colwyn Bay.

The statue, which would be placed on the town's promenade, will depict Jones as a nude organist, a nod to one of his famous Monty Python sketches. The campaign is supported by celebrities including Cerys Matthews, Steve Coogan, Jo Brand, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Emma Thompson, Alex Horne, Simon Fanshawe OBE and Steven Isserlis CBE.

The bid will be run in partnership with Terry’s children, Sally Jones and Bill Jones. Conwy Arts Trust, a Conwy-based charity supporting the arts in North Wales will help run the campaign. It has the support of the Mayor of Colwyn Bay and Conwy County Borough Council.Terry was born in Colwyn Bay and lived there for the first five years of his life until his family moved to Surrey. Later he became a Patron of Theatr Colwyn, a place where his grandfather, mother and aunt all appeared on stage as both amateurs and professionals.Terry would return to the town often to help with fundraising and other special events to support Theatr Colwyn and the arts in Colwyn Bay, helping to ensure there was always life and laughter. He died on January 21, 2020, aged 77.At today's fundraising launch Sir Michael said Terry Jones’ Welshness was important to him even though he left North Wales as a child. He said: “The fact that he had to leave Colwyn Bay at the age of five, he felt he had a lot to make up for if he was really going to be Welsh. He mentioned it quite a lot later on.

“He valued his Welshness very much. It influenced a lot of his work and his attitude to work and his passion for work. And his determination not to accept just anything that the English said to him.”

Sir Michael said he would only like a statue of himself in his hometown of Ranmoor in Sheffield if it were a funny one like that proposed for Terry Jones - as a naked organist, from one of his sketches.

He said: “It has to be light hearted. Python was always about the alternative so we’d look for the alternative to a formal statue.”

Terry Gilliam, standing on Colwyn Bay Pier, chipped in: “We’re planting the seeds of humour wherever we can around the world to keep people from being miserable and serious and pompous.”

Meanwhile Emma Thompson has offered her support for the appeal. She has said: “Terry Jones was a comic genius to whom I largely owe my survival. Laughing with him got me through school. I will always be grateful.” Jo Brand said: “Terry was lovely, warm and absolutely hilarious.

"When I learnt to play the organ several years ago, it was always Terry I thought of when I sat down to play. If anyone deserves a statue, it’s Terry.”

Alex Horne said: “In thousands of years time, when future archaeologists are looking at our statues in the same way we look at those of Pompeii and Ancient Rome, there would be no better hero than a naked Terry Jones. Please let us immortalise the silly great man.”

Steve Coogan in a moving video message has said: “Terry was and remains a hero to me in exemplifying the very best of British, that British sense of anarchy and eccentricity… The original disrupters were Monty Python and as the years go by my affection for them grows exponentially, it’s about time we celebrated and saluted one of our greats.”

Steven Isserlis CBE said: “I love the idea of a statue of Terry Jones in Colwyn Bay! Terry remained deeply, irreversibly, defiantly Welsh throughout his life, and would have been so proud to know that his image would grace or disgrace, as he would have put it, the Promenade.”

Simon Fanshawe OBE has also offered his support to the campaign and sent this memory of Terry: “My memories of Terry revolve mostly around food, wine, conversation and laughter. After a Sunday lunch at ours in Brighton we all lurched naked into the sea off the nudist beach and Terry gesturing at the surrounding water as he held up a stray tea bag that had been floating in the waves, shouted to me 'it’s the biggest cup of tea in the world'."

The campaign has the backing of all the remaining Pythons with Sir Michael Palin recording a special appeal for donations featured on the GoFundMe page. Eric Idle said: “Finally Terry gets the recognition he deserves. A statue no less.

"Ok, so it’s not an airport or a Boulevard, but a statue in Colwyn Bay is lovely and a wonderful way to remember this fabulous man.”

John Cleese said: “I am so delighted that Terry is being immortalized in bronze, although I would have preferred that he be immortalized by not dying. Still, bronze is better than nothing."

It is hoped the life-size statue will be sited on the Promenade in Colwyn Bay. It will be created by Llandudno-based sculptor Nick Elphick.

The campaign has received enthusiastic local support from Conwy County Borough Council, the Mayor of Colwyn Bay, and town councillors. Sarah Ecob, Head of Service for Economy and Culture at Conwy County Borough Council, said: "Terry Jones was a much loved and valued Patron of Theatr Colwyn for 14 years. His regular visits to Colwyn Bay brought joy to us and our audiences.

"Celebrating Terry's life with a very silly statue is a fitting tribute to this most brilliant son of Colwyn Bay. Sadly, our budgets, which keep Theatr Colwyn affordable, exciting and welcoming for all, don't stretch to funding the statue.

"It would mean the world to us if you could help make the statue a reality by chipping in a few pounds or whatever you can afford. We're looking forward to seeing Terry’s statue in pride of place on the prom, once again bringing a smile to all who see him."

Cllr Aaron Wynne, Conwy County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, said: “Everyone associated with Theatr Colwyn was very proud when Terry Jones agreed to become the first patron. The support he gave the theatre and the town was always greatly appreciated.

"It would be fitting if his support could be acknowledged in a lasting way, and I wish Conwy Arts Trust every success with their fundraising campaign.”

Ricki Owen, Mayor of Colwyn Bay, said “Having a statue dedicated to Terry Jones here in Colwyn Bay would honour his contribution to the area over many years and keep his legacy going. As a childhood fan of Monty Python, I am delighted to support this project and urge anyone who is able to donate or get involved in any way they can. Also, to have the sculpture commissioned by a local artist is also a fantastic addition to this project.”

• The fundraiser is called a Python on the Prom and you can donate Here