Family recreate the magical moment they acted out a scene from Calamity Jane - with the original taxi they used in the 1960s 

  • Avril Stone, 69, tracked down taxi they used to act out scene from the musical
  • She did it for her husband, Eric, driver in the original image, who is terminally ill
  • Friends and family recreated moment like they did for the original photograph

A family has recreated a photograph of the moment they acted out a scene from Calamity Jane - 50 years after the original was taken.

Avril Stone, 69, tracked down the taxi they used to play the scene from the musical for her husband, Eric, the driver in the original image, who is terminally ill with motor neurone disease.

Mrs Stone traced down the vintage motor, which once belonged to her parents, and arranged for the current owner to bring it to North Devon.

1960: A family has recreated a photograph of the moment they acted out a scene from Calamity Jane -  50 years after the original (pictured) was taken

1960: A family has recreated a photograph of the moment they acted out a scene from Calamity Jane - 50 years after the original (pictured) was taken

2016: Mrs Stone traced down the vintage motor and arranged for the current owner to bring it to North Devon to recreate this old image. Eric Stone is sitting in the wheelchair

2016: Mrs Stone traced down the vintage motor and arranged for the current owner to bring it to North Devon to recreate this old image. Eric Stone is sitting in the wheelchair

More than 200 people ended up attending the event - with visitors travelling from all over the country.

Mrs Stone said: 'It wasn't just a reunion of the London cab, it was also a reunion for my husband, Eric, and I was absolutely amazed by the amount of people that came.

'Not only were there people who came to see and were linked to the taxi but there were several people who belonged to Halton 81st Apprentice, who worked alongside my husband.

'There was a gathering at the end of the event where many memories were shared from nights out with the black cab, especially stag nights where seven or eight men dressed up in morning suits, with the bowl hats and everything. There were so many memories.' 

More than 200 people ended up attending the event - with visitors travelling from all over the country. Mrs Stone is pictured in front of the cab holding a photo of the original image

More than 200 people ended up attending the event - with visitors travelling from all over the country. Mrs Stone is pictured in front of the cab holding a photo of the original image

Mrs Stone said: 'It wasn't just a reunion of the London cab, it was also a reunion for my husband, Eric, and I was absolutely amazed by the amount of people that came'

Mrs Stone said: 'It wasn't just a reunion of the London cab, it was also a reunion for my husband, Eric, and I was absolutely amazed by the amount of people that came'

The taxi was brought to the Muddiford Inn by its current owner, Doug Cheshire, from Uxbridge, who has had it since 2004.

Visitors travelled from all over England, from Bideford and Barnstaple to Aylesbury, Malmesbury, Plymouth and Honiton - and all those who traveled to see the cab were related to the RAF. The picture is thought to have been posed in 1962.  

Mrs Stone added: 'Doug brought the black cab all the way to Barnstaple just to take Eric, who has motor neurone disease, for a drive.

'Derek Beames, my husband's best friend, became the registered owner of the taxi while they were at RAF Chivenor and he died eight years ago. He also had motor neurone disease. 

Visitors travelled from all over England, from Bideford and Barnstaple to Aylesbury, Malmesbury, Plymouth and Honiton

Visitors travelled from all over England, from Bideford and Barnstaple to Aylesbury, Malmesbury, Plymouth and Honiton

Mrs Stone added: 'Doug brought the black cab all the way to Barnstaple just to take Eric, who has motor neurone disease, for a drive'. Pictured: The scene recreated on the taxi 

Mrs Stone added: 'Doug brought the black cab all the way to Barnstaple just to take Eric, who has motor neurone disease, for a drive'. Pictured: The scene recreated on the taxi 

'The event was not only to help North Devon Hospice for their 'Pitch in a Pound' event, but also to raise awareness of motor neurone disease that affects two in 100,000 people, but the main purpose was the reunion which Eric loved.

'We wanted to recreate the picture with the people that are still here today.'

Mrs Stone parents, Alf and Ethel Barthram, were the licensees of the New Inn at Muddiford, now renamed the Muddiford Inn from 1955 to 1963.

The hotel was a favourite watering hole for servicemen from RAF Chivenor and especially a group of Armourers.

A time came when all their vehicles were off the road and Mrs Stone's father, Alf, would take them back to camp after the pub was closed.

When he heard of an old London taxi that was for sale in the Bristol area - he bought it, for £27. The taxi became a well-known sight around Barnstaple.  

Calamity Jane, Doris Day, riding shotgun on stage into Deadwood, South Dakota during the original 1953 film

Calamity Jane, Doris Day, riding shotgun on stage into Deadwood, South Dakota during the original 1953 film

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