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Terry Jones statue was unveiled in Colwyn Bay today with Carol Cleveland, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam in attendance
It has long been the practice of pilgrims to rub the feet or hands of the statues of saints.
But the daughter of Terry Jones has invited Monty Python fans to rub her father’s bum for good luck when they visit the Welsh town of Colwyn Bay.
A statue of Jones striking his nude organist pose, wearing a flapping tie and with wild hair, was unveiled at the town’s beachfront on Saturday.
The figure of the late comedian, by Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick, has been funded by a worldwide campaign by Monty Python fans, which raised more than £120,000.
Sally Jones, Terry Jones’s daughter, echoed the sentiment before the statue’s unveiling, telling Radio 4’s Today programme that Colwyn Bay had always been close to her father’s heart, despite him having moved away at the age of five.
“People can come and sit down on the bench next to him. They can put their hands on the piano. They can see every element of the statue. And hopefully people will enjoy it and possibly rub his bum for luck,” she said.
There was a crowd of several thousand on the sand and promenade who had travelled from across Britain for the unveiling.
Palin said: “He was loyal, he was funny, he was bright, he was intelligent. He had so many virtues.”
Jones was born in Colwyn Bay before his family relocated. He maintained links with the north Wales town, becoming patron of Theatre Colwyn and supporting its renovation in 2011.
Jones performed in, co-wrote and directed two Monty Python films: The Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
He co-directed The Holy Grail with Gilliam and co-wrote the series Ripping Yarns with Palin, whom he had met at Oxford University.
Three other Python members – John Cleese, Eric Idle and Gilliam – supported the fundraising campaign for the statue, along with Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan and Suzy Eddie Izzard.
Jones died in 2020 at the age of 77, from a rare form of dementia and his family hope the statue will bring some comfort to others who have lost loved ones to the condition.
“It’s so difficult when someone suffers from dementia and you lose them so slowly over a period of years,” said Ms Jones. “They disappear in front of you, so being able to really properly celebrate his life and everything he did is just a real joy for us and it’s nice to be able to share that with everybody after what can be quite a sad few years at the end of somebody’s life.”
He added: “It was so important to me to get Terry’s smile right. I did 10 portraits playing with different expressions and I hope I have done him justice.
“I feel like I’m the luckiest sculptor ever, a little bit of being in the right place, at the right time, to bring Terry Jones back to north Wales.”
Dilwyn Price, the chairman of Conwy Arts Trust, said: “Conwy Arts Trust have been privileged to be partners in this exciting project to pay tribute to the acclaimed actor, author and historian, who never forgot his Welsh heritage and especially his Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn roots. The inspirational statue will be a lasting testimony to Terry Jones and a reminder to everyone who sees the statue that we have not forgotten him.”
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