At the time he was enrolled at an art school in Whitechapel, studying jewellery and silversmithing, but whilst waiting at a bus stop having just watched the ground-breaking movie, Alien, he bumped into an old primary-school friend whom he had not seen for many years.

Bob Keen was in the fledgling animatronics business, and working on a film at the Shepperton Studios making dinosaur puppets.

"He suggested I come down and see what they do," said Mr Gibson-Harris.

So he did, and due to his artistic talents, was offered a job on set.

"I had always been making things as a child," the 48-year-old continued.

"I wanted to be an illustrator but then I found out I was really not that good at drawing.

"I had made bits of jewellery before so I got into that.

"It never occured to me that there was work in animatronics."

In 1986 Mr Gibson-Harris set up Crawley Creatures with the late Nigel Trevessey.

After a steady start, the firm got its big break in the mid-90s when it was asked to work on the hugely successful BBC documentary, Walking With Dinosaurs.

Since 2000 the business has been based Rabans Close in Aylesbury.

For the full interview, pick up a copy of Business Herald, free with this week's Bucks Herald.