CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG AND TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS 1909 HUMBER RETURN TO ICONIC FILM LOCATION IN OXFORDSHIRE

In the 55th anniversary year of the iconic film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, two of the vehicles that starred in the film have returned to one of the filming locations as part of a commemoration service for Sally Ann Howes, who played Truly Scrumptious. On Sunday 21st May 2023, both a reconstruction Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the original 1909 Humber 8hp used in the film returned to Russell's Water in Oxfordshire, to the spot where they filmed Truly Scrumptious driving the Humber into a duck pond as she encounters members of the Potts family, Caractacus, Jeremy and Jemima. The vehicles, being provided by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest, were parked near to the pond as part of a commemoration service following the death of Sally Ann Howes in December 2021. The service included guests from Russell's Water Village committee, the National Motor Museum, and Sally Ann Howes' family members, including her nephew Rupert Howes, and his daughter Ella Howes who has recorded a modern arrangement of the classic Sherman Brothers songs by composer Alfie Godfrey. A tree was also planted together with a commemorative plaque alongside the pond, which has become a pilgrimage for fans of the film from across the world. Six Chitty vehicles were built by Alan Mann for the purpose of filming, one of which, still owned by the filmmakers, Eon Productions, is proudly on display in the National Motor Museum. The 1909 Humber 8hp, driven by Truly Scrumptious, was originally purchased in 1959 by the late Edward, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu as a wedding present for his first wife, Belinda, Lady Montagu, and loaned to Eon Productions for the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

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