THE schoolboy chosen to lead this year's annual Richmond drummer boy walk had a spot of military drill when he visited Catterick Garrison.

Nathan Wilkie, aged 11, was treated to a drumming lesson by the army's Normandy band.

The Richmond school student leads the re-enactment of the fateful walk of an 18th century drummer boy, who vanished in a tunnel beneath the town. He will lead walk from Richmond Castle to Easby Abbey on June 3, following most of the route taken by the lost boy.

Nathan was invited by Capt Kevin Roberts, director of music for the 32-strong band, to have instruction from four colleagues, L Cpls Mike Hughes, John Ashley and Darren Cox, and Musician Alastair Smith, in the tricky art of keeping a steady beat while marching.

They were joined by Nathan's stepfather, Staff Sgt Graham Mist, who plays the French horn in the band, at the band's home on Tuesday.

This year's walk begins at 3pm. The route has been altered because of path closures and goes to the commemorative stone, returning past St Mary's church, into Frenchgate and down the road at Easby Abbey, returning via the former rail line.