Writer Becky Hunter Kelm reflects tenderly on the life and legacy of actress Prunella Scales, marking fifty years since Fawlty Towers first aired. In this piece, she weaves together nostalgia, faith, and compassion, celebrating Scales’ remarkable career, enduring marriage, and the hope that transcends even the challenges of dementia.
This year marked 50 years since Fawlty Towers first aired, and I remember watching Scales as hotel manager Sybil Fawlty when I was a child. Sybil was so sassy and bossy. Watching back a clip of her today, as she has the most almighty go at her on screen husband Basil (John Cleese) after he did something else ridiculous, made me smile with nostalgia.
Sybil’s character was long-suffering. She put up with a lot from co-star John Cleese as Basil Fawlty - and she didn’t care who knew it! She was loud, full of spunk, her huge hair and fashion were fabulous, and she was very, very funny.
Re-watching Fawlty Towers was also a sharp reminder of how much the world has changed. Some FT episodes can no longer be aired because they’re openly racist. Time moves on, we learn, we try to do better. And the years tick by. Last week, Prunella Scales passed away peacefully with her family present, reminding us yet again of the inevitability of death, and the need for hope that goes beyond the grave.
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Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, but this didn’t stop her from going on the BBC’s Great Canal Journeys with her husband, Timothy West (also a well-known British actor). The show portrayed that they enjoyed a long, loving marriage where Timothy cared for Prunell throughout the progression of her dementia.
The show portrayed that they enjoyed a long, loving marriage where Timothy cared for Prunell throughout the progression of her dementia.
After celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary, Timothy spoke about this in a BBC interview, saying: ‘Somehow we have coped with it and Pru doesn’t really think about it.’
We don’t know for certain if Prunella had a personal faith in Jesus. Still, I think it’s beautiful how she and her husband honoured Christian marriage in church, even choosing to renew their vows in church with Canon John Hester on their 40th wedding anniversary.
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In 2012, Scales also met with Richard Chartres the Bishop of London to celebrate the 350th anniversary of The 1662 Book Of Common Prayer, and gave a reading during celebratory Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral. A long-time member of The Prayer Book Society, Prunella stated that: ‘Whatever the English speaker’s faith is, if they don’t understand The Book Of Common Prayer then they are not going to understand English literature.’
‘You see, I think the Prayer Book provides a script for English life. For over 300 years, it provided our lines for when we married, baptised a child, or buried someone we loved,’
‘You see, I think the Prayer Book provides a script for English life. For over 300 years, it provided our lines for when we married, baptised a child, or buried someone we loved,’ Prunella explains. ‘And I think we dismiss it as old-fashioned at our peril. Whether we believe it or not, The Book of Common Prayer gives everyone a chance to take part in a beautifully written play.’
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Prunella may not have been a regular churchgoer, but she welcomed the role of the church in her own ‘beautifully written play’ through The 1662 Book Of Common Prayer and her wedding and vow renewals. As we say goodbye to another iconic British actress, I’m thankful that Prunella honoured marriage the way she did. I pray that her loved ones left behind would be drawn to the promise of eternal life found in the gospel of Jesus Christ in some way.
I’ve also thought a lot about the way her husband and children cared for her throughout her dementia. My mum is 85 and also has dementia, and I understand some of the grief and the guilt that comes with that diagnosis and how painful it is to prepare yourself for the person you love most in the world to slip away from you. Let’s take comfort that Jesus never abandons our loved ones with dementia, and lets consider how we care for those with dementia, and their carers, in our churches.
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