Terry Jones Statue to be Unveiled in Colwyn Bay This Weekend

Apr 25, 2026, 06:02

Introduction

A bronze statue commemorating the late actor and writer Terry Jones, best known as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, is scheduled for unveiling in his birthplace of Colwyn Bay, north Wales, on Saturday.

Main Body

The life-sized sculpture depicts Jones as the nude organist, a recurring character from the television series Monty Python's Flying Circus. The design, created by Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick after consultation with Jones's family, shows the figure grinning, with wild hair and a flapping tie, striking the classic organist pose. The organ merges into a writing desk that incorporates references to Jones's broader career, including his work on medieval history books. Elphick noted that the most challenging aspect was capturing a smile that would be acceptable to the family, and he reported working 15-hour days for nearly a year and a half on the project. The fundraising campaign, which reached its £120,000 target within six months, received donations from around the world. It was promoted by several celebrities, including Emma Thompson, Steve Coogan, and Suzy Eddie Izzard. Jones's family backed the initiative. Fellow Monty Python members Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam will attend the unveiling, which will take place at a location overlooking Colwyn Bay beach. The two other surviving Pythons, John Cleese and Eric Idle, also expressed support for the campaign. Sir Michael Palin remarked that the group rarely agrees on matters, but that they concurred on the humor of this particular tribute. He stated that Jones would have found the statue “very funny indeed” and that, although Jones would have been the last person to want a statue of himself, he would have made an exception for this design. Jones died in 2020 at the age of 77 from a rare form of dementia. He performed in, co-wrote, and directed two Monty Python films—The Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life—and co-directed The Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam. He also co-wrote the television series Ripping Yarns with Sir Michael Palin, whom he first met at Oxford University. Although Jones moved to Surrey at age four, he maintained ties with Colwyn Bay, serving as patron of Theatr Colwyn and supporting its renovation in 2011. Elphick expressed hope that the public would interact with the statue, suggesting it would produce iconic photographs.

Conclusion

The statue of Terry Jones is set to be unveiled on Saturday, with the support of his family, fellow Monty Python members, and a global fundraising campaign, marking a permanent commemoration of his comedic legacy in his birthplace.

Vocabulary Learning

commemoration (n.)
memorial / the action or fact of commemorating a person or event紀念；紀念活動
Example:The statue marks a permanent commemoration of his comedic legacy.
concurred (v.)
agreed / to be of the same opinion; to agree同意；一致認為
Example:They concurred on the humor of this particular tribute.
iconic (adj.)
emblematic / widely recognized and well-known, especially as representing a particular culture or movement標誌性的；象徵性的
Example:The statue would produce iconic photographs.
initiative (n.)
project / a new plan or action to address a problem or achieve a goal倡議；計劃
Example:Jones's family backed the initiative.
patron (n.)
sponsor / a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause贊助人；支持者
Example:He served as patron of Theatr Colwyn.

Sentence Learning

A bronze statue commemorating the late actor and writer Terry Jones, best known as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, is scheduled for unveiling in his birthplace of Colwyn Bay, north Wales, on Saturday.
Reduced Relative Clauses and Apposition: The sentence uses a present participle phrase 'commemorating...' as a reduced relative clause (which commemorates), and 'best known as...' as a reduced relative clause (who is best known). Additionally, 'the late actor and writer Terry Jones' is an appositive. The main clause is 'A bronze statue is scheduled for unveiling...'.縮減關係從句與同位語：句子使用了現在分詞短語「commemorating...」作為縮減關係從句（即「which commemorates」），以及「best known as...」作為縮減關係從句（即「who is best known」）。此外，「the late actor and writer Terry Jones」是同位語。主句為「A bronze statue is scheduled for unveiling...」。
The design, created by Llandudno sculptor Nick Elphick after consultation with Jones's family, shows the figure grinning, with wild hair and a flapping tie, striking the classic organist pose.
Participial Phrases and Prepositional Phrase: The sentence contains a past participle phrase 'created by... after consultation...' modifying 'The design'. Then present participle phrases 'grinning' and 'striking' describe the figure. Also a prepositional phrase 'with wild hair and a flapping tie' adds detail. This creates a dense descriptive structure.分詞短語與介詞短語：句子包含過去分詞短語「created by... after consultation...」修飾「The design」，以及現在分詞短語「grinning」和「striking」描述人物，還有介詞短語「with wild hair and a flapping tie」增添細節，形成密集的描述結構。
He stated that Jones would have found the statue “very funny indeed” and that, although Jones would have been the last person to want a statue of himself, he would have made an exception for this design.
Complex Conditionals and Concessive Clause: The sentence uses the third conditional (hypothetical past) with 'would have found', 'would have been', 'would have made'. It also includes a concessive clause 'although Jones would have been the last person to want a statue of himself'. The structure is reported speech with two 'that' clauses, demonstrating mastery of hypothetical and concessive structures.複雜條件句與讓步從句：句子使用了第三條件句（假設過去）的「would have found」、「would have been」、「would have made」。同時包含讓步從句「although Jones would have been the last person to want a statue of himself」。結構為間接引語帶兩個「that」從句，展現了假設與讓步結構的掌握。
He also co-wrote the television series Ripping Yarns with Sir Michael Palin, whom he first met at Oxford University.
Relative Clause with Formal Object Pronoun: The sentence uses 'whom' as the object of the verb 'met'. This is a formal relative pronoun, appropriate for C2 level. The relative clause 'whom he first met at Oxford University' modifies 'Sir Michael Palin'.帶正式受詞關係代詞的關係從句：句子使用「whom」作為動詞「met」的受詞，是正式的關係代詞，適合C2水平。關係從句「whom he first met at Oxford University」修飾「Sir Michael Palin」。
Although Jones moved to Surrey at age four, he maintained ties with Colwyn Bay, serving as patron of Theatr Colwyn and supporting its renovation in 2011.
Concessive Clause and Participial Phrases: The sentence begins with a concessive clause 'Although Jones moved to Surrey at age four', then the main clause 'he maintained ties with Colwyn Bay', followed by two present participle phrases 'serving as patron...' and 'supporting its renovation...' which act as adverbials of manner or attendant circumstances.讓步從句與分詞短語：句子以讓步從句「Although Jones moved to Surrey at age four」開頭，主句為「he maintained ties with Colwyn Bay」，接著兩個現在分詞短語「serving as patron...」和「supporting its renovation...」作為方式或伴隨情況的狀語。