Monty Python star still living a full life despite suffering from dementia, says old friend Palin
The only words the Welshman could say were “quieten down”, which he said to the audience.
In an interview at the weekend Palin, spoke about his friend to raise awareness of FTD which affects tens of thousands of people in the UK but is little known.
He revealed Jones was no longer able to express his feelings, and said: “That must be the most difficult thing – not to be able to say quite simply how you are feeling on a given occasion.
“We assume he is happy but that assumption could be wrong. We just don’t know.”
The pair first teamed up on The Frost Report in the 1960s and went on to form Monty Python’s Flying Circus with Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Eric Idle and the late Graham Chapman.
Jones directed and starred in Monty Python And The Holy Grail, Life Of Brian and The Meaning Of Life.
He went on to direct other films, including Personal Services and The Wind In The Willows. He has also written books on medieval history and the Iraq war.
He married Alison Telfer in 1970 and they had two children, Sally and Bill, before divorcing in 2012.
He then married Anna Soderstrom, 40 years his junior, with whom he has a daughter Siri.
“We chat – well, I chat,” said Palin of the pair’s regular lunches.
“But when the meal is over he makes it clear he has to get to the next thing and just goes.”
However, mobility is not often a problem with FTD. “Terry still goes on long walks across Hampstead Heath and it is very hard to keep up with him,” said Palin.
“His old pal Barry Cryer came round one day. It was muddy and Barry kept slipping while Terry just walked on. There he was on his backside in the mud while his friend who had dementia was striding out miles ahead of him.
“He still enjoys his beer, his wine, his walks and a good joke. These are not things you associate with a depressive illness.”