Prunella Scales’s son Sam West has opened up about his late mothers final years, sharing he heartbreakingly hadn’t had a “proper” conversation with her in two years.
Ms Scales died on Monday at 93, almost a year after her husband Timothy West passed away at 90.
Mr West shared that his mother’s battle with dementia meant they hadn’t had many coherent chats recently but reflected fondly on a memory of their last conversation.
The Fawlty Towers star began suffering memory difficulties in 2001, but wasn’t diagnosed with vascular dementia until 2013.
Prunella Scales’ husband Timothy West died last year
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Mr west recalled how his mother was able to enjoy a celebration for her 90th birthday three years ago in an interview he did shortly before her death.
“It was a very happy day,” he reflected, adding: “My brother did a beautiful poem.”
Speaking on the Rosebud podcast to Gyles Brandreth, he continued: “I put out a message on Twitter a few days before saying, ‘My mum’s going to be 90, anyone who wants to send her a message I’ll make sure she gets it.’
“I got 6,500 replies, which I bound. And even removing everything but the message, they made a 110 page book, which she flicked through and rather enjoyed – and wouldn’t remember of course now. But at the time it was rather beautiful.”
Sam West reflected on his mother’s final conversation recently
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He recalled one memorable discussion with his mother, adding: “The last proper conversation I had with her was a couple of years ago, where she said to me, ‘How old am I?’
“And I said ‘You’re 91 mum,’ and she said ’91? F***.’ Beautifully enunciated, beautifully timed.”
He clarified: “It’s not quite the last conversation that we had, but it may turn out to be the last one that made any sort of sense.”
Mr Brandreth pointed out that he’d hosted an event last year, attended by Queen Camilla, which Ms Scales had attended.
Prunella Scales died on Monday, almost a year after husband Timothy West’s death
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He commented: “Queen Camilla came and what was interesting was that your mother seemed to recognise Queen Camilla.
“Certainly they kissed and had a happy chat, and if you hadn’t known… she laughed at the jokes.”
Mr West went on to explain more about his mother’s final years: “She saw my eight-year-old sing at the same church my father’s memorial was, St James’s Piccadilly, only a couple of months ago.
“And the pictures I have of them together show them absolutely enjoying each other’s company.
“She’s never really been angry or anxious, as a person with dementia.
“She’s quite content I think, which is fairly extraordinary because it could be a lot worse.”