Born at home in Yarm-on-Tees on 25th July 1955, at the age of seven he moved with his family to Whitby where his paper round there got him fit to join the army which he did on 15th of September 1970 as a boy soldier at Pirbright ( The then Guards Depot).
After several weeks of initial training he started to learn the bugle and flute as a Junior Drummer and within a very short time played the LAST POST and Reveille along with others Boy Drummers at the Cenotaph in London for the Remembrance Day parade as a very young lad.
In 1974 he sounded a fanfare with other Drummers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards at the Town Hall in Spandau, Berlin. When it still had a wall round it.
On returning to London’s Chelsea Barracks with the Battalion, he was one of three Drummers selected and given the role of Tower Drummer, which meant instead of playing in the camp his duties were carried out at the Tower of London, which included sounding the Last Post at 10 PM for the ceremony of the keys. (And sleeping not very far from the Crown Jewels). His first performance at the Tower was not his best but it was his first big solo public performance and did his legs shake.
After about Two years he was posted back to the Guards Depot Corps of Drums as a Regimental Drummer, where amongst other things he sounded Last Post on the Television Program (Magpie), managed to get to the Caribbean, America, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago with the Royal Navy on H M S Fearless for 4 months.
Returning to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and after 6 years in Germany, 3 years with each Battalion, one year in Hong Kong with the 1st, 2 Years in Cyprus with the 2nd and some in between postings to London and a trip to Kenya. Finally returned to the Guards Depot for his last posting before leaving the Army in 1993.
Moving to Stockton-on-Tees about five miles from where he was born with his German wife Marita and two sons James and Martin he then joined the Harbour Police for 5 years on the River Tees as a police constable on Teesside, after which time he became employed by P & O North Sea Ferries in Hull as a Ships Policeman on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry. First on the MV Norsun, MV Norsea and finally on the Pride of Hull. Until retiring due to ill health in 2005.
With a 95% life change Don was not prepared to sit at home and mope (well not after the first 6 months of doing so anyway) and after a long struggle with health finally came up with the idea of Medal Ribbon Tie Pins, which are made from enamel and are 75% the size of a normal Medal Ribbon. So after some more thought and discussion, Expert professional guidance and persuasion Greg and Woody Thank You Don has had nine Ribbon Badges / Brooch’s designed and made.
And if the serious hobby escalates as it has started the Hobby will soon become a personal achievement and business.
2006 Don Castelow “ONCE A DRUMMER ALWAYS A DRUMMER”
Just use whatever bits you like.
My own web site: http://www.medal-mania.co.uk/
After several weeks of initial training he started to learn the bugle and flute as a Junior Drummer and within a very short time played the LAST POST and Reveille along with others Boy Drummers at the Cenotaph in London for the Remembrance Day parade as a very young lad.
In 1974 he sounded a fanfare with other Drummers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards at the Town Hall in Spandau, Berlin. When it still had a wall round it.
On returning to London’s Chelsea Barracks with the Battalion, he was one of three Drummers selected and given the role of Tower Drummer, which meant instead of playing in the camp his duties were carried out at the Tower of London, which included sounding the Last Post at 10 PM for the ceremony of the keys. (And sleeping not very far from the Crown Jewels). His first performance at the Tower was not his best but it was his first big solo public performance and did his legs shake.
After about Two years he was posted back to the Guards Depot Corps of Drums as a Regimental Drummer, where amongst other things he sounded Last Post on the Television Program (Magpie), managed to get to the Caribbean, America, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago with the Royal Navy on H M S Fearless for 4 months.
Returning to the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and after 6 years in Germany, 3 years with each Battalion, one year in Hong Kong with the 1st, 2 Years in Cyprus with the 2nd and some in between postings to London and a trip to Kenya. Finally returned to the Guards Depot for his last posting before leaving the Army in 1993.
Moving to Stockton-on-Tees about five miles from where he was born with his German wife Marita and two sons James and Martin he then joined the Harbour Police for 5 years on the River Tees as a police constable on Teesside, after which time he became employed by P & O North Sea Ferries in Hull as a Ships Policeman on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry. First on the MV Norsun, MV Norsea and finally on the Pride of Hull. Until retiring due to ill health in 2005.
With a 95% life change Don was not prepared to sit at home and mope (well not after the first 6 months of doing so anyway) and after a long struggle with health finally came up with the idea of Medal Ribbon Tie Pins, which are made from enamel and are 75% the size of a normal Medal Ribbon. So after some more thought and discussion, Expert professional guidance and persuasion Greg and Woody Thank You Don has had nine Ribbon Badges / Brooch’s designed and made.
And if the serious hobby escalates as it has started the Hobby will soon become a personal achievement and business.
2006 Don Castelow “ONCE A DRUMMER ALWAYS A DRUMMER”
Just use whatever bits you like.
My own web site: http://www.medal-mania.co.uk/
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My Old Regiment
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A Member of
The Yorkshire Corps of Drums
The Yorkshire Corps of Drums
24164600 DONALD CASTELOW
COLDSTREAM GUARDS (Corps of Drums)
COLDSTREAM GUARDS (Corps of Drums)
1970 to 1993
