British actor Samuel West has shared deeply emotional memories of his mother, legendary Fawlty Towers star Prunella Scales, who passed away peacefully at home in London aged 93.
Speaking just two weeks before her death, Samuel revealed that his last meaningful conversation with his mum took place two years ago, when her dementia had already taken hold. “She asked me, ‘How old am I?’ I said, ‘You’re 91, Mum.’ And she replied, ‘91? F*ck.’ Beautifully enunciated, beautifully timed,” he said, smiling through the pain.
Despite the cruel effects of vascular dementia, Prunella’s wit and warmth continued to shine through. Samuel recalled her joy during her 90th birthday celebration, when he gathered 6,500 birthday messages from fans and compiled them into a 110-page book. “She flicked through it and rather enjoyed it — even though she wouldn’t remember now,” he shared.
In her final years, Prunella remained at the family home in south-west London, supported by round-the-clock carers and still managing to use a stairlift to reach her bedroom. She even attended a family gathering at St James’s Piccadilly, where she watched her eight-year-old grandchild sing in the same church that had hosted her husband Timothy West’s memorial service.
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth also revealed that at a function attended by Queen Camilla last year, Prunella appeared animated and even shared a laugh with the Queen — a touching reminder of her grace and humour even in her frailest days.
Samuel, whose father Timothy passed away last November at 90, reflected on his parents’ extraordinary marriage. “They were each other’s best friend. Even when her sense of humour faded, she was never angry or anxious — just content. That’s rare and beautiful,” he said.
In a final statement, the family said: “Although dementia forced her retirement from a remarkable 70-year career, she continued to live at home. Her last days were comfortable, contented and surrounded by love.”
