Remembering Truly Scrumptious

IT has become one of the most memorable scenes in film.

When Truly Scrumptious drove her car into a duck pond to avoid the Potts family in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The scene was filmed at Russell’s Water and on Sunday,
55 years after the film’s release, two of the cars from the film returned as part of a commemoration for Sally Ann Howes, who played Truly.

Members of her family planted a tree in memory of the actress, who died in 2021, aged 91.

They also unveiled a plaque by the pond, which has become a pilgrimage for fans of the film all over the world.

A reconstructed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the original 1909 Humber 8hp used in the film was provided by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest.

The event was organised by Gordon Grant, a fan of the film who owns the car and reconstructed it from parts of the six film vehicles that were salvaged post-production.

The Humber, which was driven by Truly, was bought in 1959 by the late Edward, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, as a wedding present to his first wife, Belinda, and loaned for use in the film,

Howes’ nephew Rupert and his children Ella and Tom unveiled the plaque and planted the apple tree.

Mr Howes said: “Gordon has done the most incredible job — this is absolutely magical. It is tremendous being here and I know my aunt would have loved it. In my heart, I think she’s here with us.

“She was always glamorous. At one point she lived in Trump Towers on First Avenue in New York.

“This 80-year-old would be striding up the street with waves of people parting. She had this presence even though she wasn’t actually that tall.”

To mark the occasion, Howes’ great niece Ella recorded a modern arrangement of the classic Sherman Brothers’ songs from the film by composer Alfie Godfrey.

Miss Howes said: “Sally Ann got me into singing and this song was arranged by Alfie Godfrey, who works for Hans Zimmer, so we got real strings and he did the medley.

“Sally Ann was the reason I did classical singing and this is a really nice opportunity to get singing again.”

Miss Howes said that since her great aunt’s passing, she had discovered what an amazing and colourful life she had.

She added: “I was going through some old photos and trying to remember her apart from her role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the other films she did.

“She was also in theatre, she sang for presidents and met Marilyn Monroe. She dated men twice her age and she dated the actor Jeffrey Hunter.”

Mr Grant, who was a film set decorator, said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better day. We got the perfect weather and were luckier than the King for the coronation.

“I met Sally Ann when I was 19 and she was just lovely. I met her a couple of times after that and when I heard she had died, I thought, ‘What better way to pay tribute to her?’”

Among the fans at the event was Dave Hinett, from Worcester, who has a tattoo across his back in tribute to the film and was making his fourth visit to Russell’s Water. He possesses thousands of pieces of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang merchandise.

Mr Hinett said: “It was the first film I saw in the cinema when I was four and it just resonated and I have been into it ever since.

“I have about 2,000 items of merchandise and the number grows every week. I got a little matchbook from Spain only this week.

“There’s everything from matchbooks to soap and plasticine sets. I have a do it yourself stuffed Edison toy, which is a sewing kit that you can make your own Edison [the Potts’ dog] with.

“My prized possession is probably Dick Van Dyke’s trousers, the orange clown ones.

“I have also got a model of Grandpa’s hut that was used in the distance shots.

“I don’t know how many times I have seen the film but it is definitely in the hundreds — at one point I was watching it every week.

“I think the film resonates with so many people because it has everything. It has songs and a fantastic car with gadgets.

“The songs are fantastic and the story is brilliant — you can boo the villain, cheer the hero and marvel at the car. It is like a pantomime but a film.”

Also in attendance was one of the few remaining people to be present at the filming, Bob Warner. He moved into the cottage adjacent to the pond just before filming started. Mr Warner said: “I didn’t think anything of it at the time, I was just a young lad. I had just moved in and bought the two houses for £1,500 and the land for £500.

“I wasn’t given any warning that they were going to start filming here, they just turned up really. I don’t think a lot of people knew what was going on and all the actors mixed like normal people.

“Dick Van Dyke used to sit outside my gate. He’s a very nice chap and liked a drop to drink round the pub.

“I watched the whole thing happen and made sure I took time off work as I couldn’t stay away.

“I get quite emotional when I see the car, it really takes me back. I never expected the film would be so popular. It’s one of the best films ever.

“People come here regularly on a pilgrimage. We’ve had people from America, Australia, all over. They often come and talk to me about it — I didn’t realise at the time that it was a lifelong commitment.”

Mr Warner, who lives with his wife Janet, retired from working at a car factory 30 years ago, and now spends his time restoring motorcycles.

He planted trees around the pond sometime after the filming took place.

He said: “I knew when I came here that I would make this a beautiful place.”