The remarkable life of the former head of Sotheby's in America was brought to a tragic end by an articulated lorry as he tried to cross the road in a market town near his Cotswolds estate, an inquest heard yesterday.
Eton and Oxford educated Peregrine Pollen, 89, stepped out onto a Pelican crossing in the High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh, just as the traffic lights had turned green and the truck began to move forward.
Mr Pollen, who walked with a stick and had mobility difficulties, was unable to get out of the way and the truck ran over him, killing him instantly, the Gloucester inquest was told.