Impossible not to be moved.
A few days ago, the sad news was announced that the actor, comedian, writer and director Terry Jones, famous for his involvement in the Monty Python comedy group, has been diagnosed with dementia.
A representative for Jones was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: “Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia. This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews. Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations.”
Having worked with Jones in the Monthy Python troupe for decades, Michael Palin is arguably one of the best placed people to comment on the health of his close friend.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Palin says: “Terry J has been my close friend and workmate for over fifty years. The progress of his dementia has been painful to watch and the news announced yesterday that he has a type of aphasia which is gradually depriving him of the ability to speak is about the cruelest thing that could befall someone to whom words, ideas, arguments, jokes and stories were once the stuff of life. Not that Terry is out of circulation. He spends time with his family and only two days ago I met up with him for one of our regular meals at his local pub. Howard Johnson, an American friend of Python, was in town and took this picture. Terry doesn’t say very much but he smiles, laughs, recognises and responds, and I’m always pleased to see him. Long may that last.”
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