Richard Hammond read music at City University, London, receiving trumpet lessons at the Guildhall School of Music. In July 1990 Richard represented the United Kingdom in the European Music for Youth prize held at the South Bank. In September 1990 he won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the David Mason prize for Orchestral Trumpet Playing.

Highlights of Richard's career have included miming(!) on a BBC Young Musician of the Year television trailer, an appearance as a trumpet-playing monk on ITV's The Ruth Rendell Mystery and a cameo on BBC's Rogue Traders (not as a rogue he hastens to add!)

Richard is an extra with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and for many years he has played for the New Shakespeare Company at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. For his sins he is a supporter of Southampton Football Club and in years gone by he flew gliders and light aircraft. However his two children have more than filled that void!