THE Duke of Edinburgh has toured the workshops and viewed historic vehicles at a carriage driving centre at Clayhidon.

He was among a party of Worshipful Company of Coachmakers to visit Fenix Carriages at Higher Hill Farm.

Mark Broadbent, who runs the driving centre, is Britain’s only master coach maker – he was recently asked him to build a vehicle to replace Hampton Court’s horse-drawn tram.

His award-winning para-carriage was designed and made at the workshops. Fenix helps disabled drivers compete in the sport of carriage driving and the Fenix Freedom Carriage is designed specifically for wheelchair users.

The guests also visited the Coach House where one of the largest collections of historic vehicles in the UK is housed, including a former state coach owned by King George IV, a carriage which carried Prince Albert from London to Manchester and the original Quicksilver Royal Mail coach.

Prince Philip, who drafted the rules when carriage driving first became an internationally recognised sport in the early 1970s, took a great interest in all the carriages and the skilled work Mr Broadbent and his team produces.

“I have been privileged to compete with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh over the years,” Mr Broadbent said. “We had a wonderful tour of the workshops and carriage collection – Prince Phillip was very complimentary of those he met and all he saw. It was a great honour to welcome him to Fenix.”