'Part of my psyche is forever Pythonesque': readers' tributes to Terry Jones
‘A small part of my psyche is forever Pythonesque’
Cape Town, 1972: The country has no television broadcasts and is sorely in need of good larfs. My friend Mathew and I, both 11, took the suburban train into ‘town’ to watch a matinee of ‘And Now For Something Completely Different’. Cliche, but no other way of putting it: changed my life. Amidst the transformative laughter, I recall being amazed that adults could be this silly and at the same time make so much sense. Saw that show multiple times, and have pursued everything else since. Small part of my psyche is forever Pythonesque. I am deeply grateful. Much love, and immense thanks, to you Terry Jones. RIP. Dysconnected
‘I got a lovely letter from Terry Jones with some notes on my sketches’
I was fifteen, writing scripts, and not knowing what to do with them (at my school there wasn’t so much a lack of interest, but a lack of anyone to even offer interest in, in my grim 80s comprehensive) so I sent them to Monty Python as they seemed like gods. I had never written to anyone like that, and never did again. A few weeks later I got a lovely letter from Terry Jones, some notes on my sketches, some annotated Python scripts and a recommendation to speak to Paul Jackson, which led to me going to the BBC and spending a day with Rik [Mayall] & Ade [Edmondson]. I was literally no one, and that act of kindness has always stayed with me. RIP Terry. ChrisLaCruz
‘Genius comedy to say the least’
When the Holy Grail came out, I was at the Carnegie Theater in Chicago for the premiere. I still have a coconut from that event which was given out. Mr Jones and Mr Chapman were there live – what a day to remember for sure. An audience member asked Terry Jones why he had an umbrella? Terry quickly threw it to the guy. Genius comedy to say the least. Both are gone, and the world is a lot sadder without them. Peace to them both. Jim Slar
‘I was lucky enough to meet him’
Oh dear. Such as nice man. I was lucky enough to meet him once in the 80s when I worked in a video shop. I remember him taking out Sex, Lies and Videotapes. By coincidence, we had Monty Python and the Holy Grail playing. “We were very silly then”, he said. BobnessUK1
‘Thanks for all the laughs and catchphrases’
This makes me feel incredibly sad. Loved his stuff with Python, but also adored ripping yarns that he wrote alongside his long time writing partner Michael Palin. My daughter managed to get ‘he’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty boy’ into her RS exam. Thanks for all the laughs and catchphrases! OrbitalGirl
‘Monty Python provided great visual merriment and a way into the English language’
Growing up in Holland and struggling to get to grips with English at school in the early ‘70s Monty Python provided great visual merriment and a way into the language. Thank you Terry for the many, many laughs as and since I graduated with a degree in English literature from the University of Essex. DoubleDutchie
‘My brain instantly interfaces Jones’ voice and makes me giggle’
‘Who does he think he is?’. Whenever anyone utters this line, my brain instantly interfaces Terry Jones’ voice over theirs and makes me giggle, no matter how serious the matter in question. Phillip Lawler
‘I watched Life of Brian 37 times’
I went to the cinema and watched Monty Python’s Life of Brian, 37 times actually. Had to keep going back. There was no DVD, Netflix, Sky or even videos. Could not stop laughing and kept missing bits. I also had the script which I memorized and know it to this day. Brilliant and genius. Just Genius. RIP Terry. Painted Pitbull
