Terry Jones’ family hopes for Oxford to be permanent home for archive

The family of Monty Python’s Terry Jones is expressing a desire for artifacts from his personal archive to find a new permanent location. Sally Jones, the late star’s daughter, stated her hope that these items, currently on loan to a gallery in Wales, will ultimately be housed at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford. Ms. Jones noted that the collection comprises “forty boxes of archive items that have just been filling my mum’s attic for the last few years.” These items, which include an original *Life of Brian* script, are presently on display in Colwyn Bay, Jones’ hometown. According to Ms. Jones, some of the scripts illustrate the editing and creative processes of the comedy team before the final productions were completed. She also mentioned that the items feature behind-the-scenes photographs and a storyboard for *The Meaning of Life*. Regarding the storyboard, Ms. Jones commented, “It is hand drawn by dad, which has everybody as a fat bald man because that was the only kind of cartoon character he could draw,” she laughed. The Oriel Colwyn gallery is currently showcasing the collection. Ms. Jones conveyed that it would be very significant to her father that the items are presently exhibited in Wales. She elaborated, “He was a frustrated Welshman, he was taken away from Colwyn Bay when he was four years old and raised in Surrey, so he didn’t sound Welsh, he didn’t get to grow up in Wales and he was just in love with the place and went back there as much as he could,” she said. Despite his affection for Wales, Ms. Jones recognized her father’s love for learning, which is why she hopes the library in Oxford will become the permanent home for the items. Terry Jones pursued English Language and Literature at St. Edmund Hall at Oxford University in the early 1960s.