Collector's passion for fossils goes on display

Leon Garner, with his wife Sandra and Jenny the dog, in Sidmouth in Devon, circa 1995

A collection of fossils gathered over a lifetime by an enthusiast with a "love for discovery" has gone on display for the first time at a Devon attraction.

Leon Garner's fascination with fossils began as a child when he explored the Jurassic Coast with his father Ron and brother Stefan.

He used to walk along the shoreline looking for fossils and camp as a child in a tin hut in a farm during holidays in Lyme Regis, Dorset.

The Sidbury resident died last year aged 83 and his entire collection has been donated to Jurassic Discovery in Seaton where it was set to be revealed to the public on Saturday.

Leon Garner's collection includes ammonites "the size of your head", says the exhibition's Josh Castree

The fossil of an ostopygis, an extinct turtle, collected by Leon Garner in Morocco

His passion for fossils led him from hunting for shark teeth at Bracklesham Bay in Sussex, to expeditions in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

His exploits also included sneaking into the Natural History Museum in London one lunchtime as he confidently greeted the security guard as he walked by, his family said.

His collection of 1,500 individually indexed specimens was donated to Jurassic Discovery by his sister Karenina Bennett and friend Megan Rodgers.

A hoplites dentatus specimen discovered by Leon Garner in Kent in 1974

Ms Bennett said: "Leon's fascination with fossils shaped so much of his life, and this collection is a wonderful tribute to that. I think he would be delighted at the outcome, as is his older brother, Stefan, and as am I."

She added: "His collection tells the story of his adventures, his dedication, and his sheer determination to uncover the past. We are so pleased that others can now share in his lifelong passion."

A selection of fossils discovered by Leon Garner, all carefully labelled by the fossil-hunter

Mr Garner wanted to donate his collection to a museum, but it was hard to find a home that would take everything.

"Generally, only some items were wanted due to specialisation, or most of it would never have seen the light of day again," said Ms Bennett.

The chief executive of Jurassic Discovery, Jenny Nunn said the collection would give visitors "a glimpse into the extraordinary life of a man whose passion for fossils never faded".

The collection showcases Leon Garner's "deep love for discovery"

She added: "His story is one of curiosity, adventure, and a deep love for discovery – something we hope will inspire the next generation of fossil-hunters."

His family has also donated his three microscopes, along with his slides, which he wanted to be used to help with education.

Fossilised vertebrates and ribs collected by Leon Garner

His collection will be used for new learning sessions for schools and educational groups, so people have hands-on experience.

It will also show how he followed in he footsteps of Mary Anning, the pioneering fossil collector of Lyme Regis during the first half of the 19th Century.

Jurassic Discovery's learning programme exploring Seaton's Jurassic past and present recently received an £88,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.