George Mossman, world-renowned expert on horse-drawn transport

Donated to the museum in 1991, the collection includes original vehicles from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

There are examples of vehicles used by tradesmen and ordinary people as well as luxury carriages and state coaches owned by the British nobility. George Mossman, of Caddington, spent more than 50 years collecting, driving, restoring and constructing horse-drawn vehicles.

On leaving school, his love of horses led him to work in a butcher’s shop as he was able to drive horse-drawn vans to deliver meat to customers.

It also left him with a life-long interest in horse-drawn transport, which he pursued in parallel with his farming and other business activities.

He acquired a leasing company providing carriages for special events such as weddings, carnivals and public occasions. Mr Mossman drove his carriages in London’s Lord Mayor’s Show for 25 years and provided vehicles and drivers for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation procession in 1953.

Many of his carriages were used for TV productions and films like Ben Hur, Carry On Dick, Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes and The Shooting Party.

Mr Mossman also supplied horses for Barry Lyndon and Jabberwocky and even had movie roles himself, such as a stagecoach driver in Carry On Cowboy.

The Stockwood Park museum houses 63 carriages, including 54 of Mr Mossman’s registered vehicles.

He died in 1993, aged 85.