John Seear | Windsor Coachman, Horseman & Keeper of a Tradition
John Seear | Windsor Coachman,
Horseman & Keeper of a Tradition
Horseman
Commercial coachman. Horseman. Husband, father and grandfather. A man whose life was spent preserving one of Windsor's oldest working traditions.
For more than fifty years John drove Windsor's horse-drawn Hackney carriages, becoming one of the final working coachmen connected to a tradition that once formed part of everyday life in the town.
To many visitors he was simply "the Windsor Coachman". To those who knew him, he was much more than that. He was a storyteller, organiser, horseman and keeper of knowledge that was never written down, but passed quietly from one generation to the next.
Farming & Horses
John's love of carriage driving began as a child.
Educated at Oundle and then Harper Adams Agricultural College, his passions were farming and horses.
After taking a carriage journey from Windsor Castle, when he was 10 years old, he formed a friendship with coachman George Paget, one of Windsor's remaining Hackney carriage drivers at the time. That friendship would shape the course of his life.
When George retired in 1974, he handed his Landau carriage and licence to John, allowing the tradition to continue into another generation.
Pictured at Taplow show.
Equestrian Events
John worked across Windsor's equestrian community and was involved with horse trials, carriage driving events and estate life.
He would be seen regularly course-building carriage driving obstacles for the Windsor Equestrian Club which he was memeber of for many decades.
He became known for his knowledge of horses and his commitment to keeping standards high. His livery yard run together with his then wife Felicity ’Tissie" Reason, was known as the best in the area.
Alongside his work with carriages, he also spent decades working with horses more broadly and helped organise events within Windsor and beyond.
Pictured receiving a lifetime award for his contribution to organising Horse Trials events such as Smiths Lawn Horse Trials and The Windsor Three Day Event.
A Legacy
For me, he was simply Dad.
My childhood was spent among horses, harnesses and carriage sheds. I grew up hearing stories between drives and learning lessons that were never taught in books. He taught me that tradition only survives when it evolves thoughtfully.
When he passed away in May 2016, I found myself unexpectedly holding the reins of a tradition that had passed quietly from coachman to coachman for generations.
The work has evolved, but the purpose remains unchanged: preserving Windsor's carriage heritage, protecting horse welfare and ensuring that future generations understand that traditions only survive when somebody chooses to care for them.
Keeping Windsor's heritage alive, one experience at a time.
Memories & Stories
Did you know John or a Windsor coachman?
If you travelled with John, worked alongside him, remember stories from Windsor's coachmen, or have photographs or memories you would like to share, we would love to hear from you.
Please email:
The Coachmen &
Their Carriage
Passed from licence to licence, coachman to coachman, the Landau carriage endured. Its 165 years of survival is not the result of chance or ownership, but of continuity, responsibility, and duty. That continuity was not theoretical. It rested on something tangible — a single carriage entrusted to each generation in turn.
THOUGHTFULLY GUIDED & HOSTED
For some visits, this looks intimate and familial. For others, it extends to estate luncheons, team gatherings up to 96 guests, or occasions held beneath the oaks. However it takes shape, your experience is guided, coordinated, and cared for, so you can remain present, rather than managing the details.
‘Thank you for all the careful planning and patience. Our clients were absolutely delighted"
Windsor Hospitality, Properly Hosted
