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Sculptor strives for fitting Monty Python statue

Reuters Members of Monty Python including Terry Jones smile at cameraReuters
Plans for a statue of Terry Jones (centre) are underway in Colwyn Bay

A sculptor tasked with designing a bronze statue of Monty Python star Terry Jones says he feels immense pressure to come up with a fitting tribute.

The Python on the Prom campaign - backed by actors Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan and the surviving members of the comedy troupe - aims to raise £120,000 to fund the memorial in Colwyn Bay, Conwy.

Jones died from a rare form of dementia in 2020, aged 77, and his family said there had been no shortage of ideas for paying tribute to him at his birthplace.

Llandudno-based artist Nick Elphick said Monty Python played a major role in his life and he hoped to best reflect Jones's personality in the piece.

"Monty Python is a huge influence for me and I watch it to go to sleep to take the stress out of my day," he said.

"I'm working with the family at the moment and they were saying Terry didn't have an ego, he wouldn't like just having a portrait of himself.

"They think he would really appreciate having one of his characters to show the art form that he was involved with.

"So the creativity that can go with this is fantastic."

Launched in September, the Python on the Prom campaign is being run by Jones's children, Sally and Bill, alongside the Conwy Arts Trust, and has nearly reached the £100,000 milestone.

Sally Jones said she has no idea what the response would be like, but had been met with an "overwhelmingly positive" reaction.

"People all over the world on social media are just talking about the campaign [with] loads of ideas of what pose the statue should be in," she said.

Terry's children Bill Jones and Sally Jones with Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam on Colwyn Bay pier
Fellow Pythons Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam launched the campaign with Terry's children Sally and Bill Jones

Sarah Ecob from Conwy Arts Trust got to know Terry Jones when he became patron of Theatr Colwyn.

She said as well as branded T-shirts, fans were selling "wafer-thin mints" to raise money in a nod to one of Jones's most memorable characters in the show, Mr Creosote.

"We wanted to bring a smile. That's what Terry always did for us," she said.

Nick Elphick gestures to Sally Jones in front of rough clay bust of Terry Jones
Nick Elphick is working with Terry Jones's family, including daughter Sally, on the final design

Jones's family has also opened up his personal archive for an exhibition at Oriel Colwyn, above the theatre, in December.

Curator Paul Sampson is sifting through hundreds of pictures and items of memorabilia to decide what will be displayed.

"Terry had a passion for life and I can see that in these photographs," he said.

"I love the tiny family passport photographs from the old photo booths. I love that it lets you into Terry's world and his life [and] that maybe doesn't need to be Monty Python. It's about Terry."

Getty Images A black and white picture depicting comedians Graham Chapman, Terry Jones and John Cleese in the 'Take Your Pick' sketch from series 2 of the BBC television show Monty Python's Flying CircusGetty Images
Jones is known for taking on a range of comedic roles throughout the series

Ms Jones added photos from the sets of Life of Brian and Holy Grail, as well as backstage during the making of the Flying Circus TV show, were vying for wall space.

"We're just pulling out gems every time I go through and open a new file. Dad was very good about keeping everything in good order, but I open files and amazing things pop out."