Truly scrumptious T

here was a time during the 1970s when a group of brilliant female tennis players dominated the sport.

This included Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King and Chris Evert.

Many of Evert’s championship-winning records remain unbeaten today and ESPN recently ranked her as the tenth most successful player of all time, male or female.

Evert’s personal life also gained her international fame

when she dated fellow star Jimmy Connors. Evert later married British tennis player and sports centre magnate John Lloyd, although the couple subsequently split.

Born and raised in Florida, since retiring Evert has been living at an estate near Palm Beach where she runs a tennis academy.

The 63-year-old is now selling up and her 5.23-acre Boca Estate is on the market for $4.99 million The focus of the estate is an eight-bedroom mansion built in 1995, but it also includes two guest houses, a nine-car garage and a barn that’s been converted into a gym and home theatre.

The Boca Estate also includes a putting green, pool and, of course, a tennis court.

Katia Reisler of Douglas Elliman and Rebecca Spooner of Siemens Group Realty, both in Boca Raton, are the agents.

More information from toptenrealestatedeals.com his year is the 50th anniversary of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the eccentric tale of a flying car and the family who use it to travel to a distant kingdom. Released in 1968, it was loosely based on a story by author Ian Fleming and starred Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jefferies, Barbara Windsor and Benny Hill. it a staple of Christmas TV schedules and let’s be honest, who hasn’t sung along to its catchy title song at some point in their lives?

Next time you watch it, look out for the scene early in the film when Truly Scrumptious nearly runs over the children of Caractacus Potts in her car, and has to swerve into a duck pond.

Both Russell Water and Kiln Barn – the pond and house featured in the scene – are still there. And for ardent fans looking for a home to rent, the barn is now available to rent for £3,750 a month.

It’s in a hamlet a few miles north of Henley in Oxfordshire, and since the scene was shot there, the barn has been turned into a luxury fivebedroom, five reception-room and four-bathroom property.

The barn was also visited by the original car used in the scenes as part of this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations for the film. Kiln Barn has a huge garden and a separate garage.

More information from Savills Henley (01491 843014).