A man who claims to be a former master saddler for the late Queen of England said his tools were stolen during a recent visit to Albuquerque.
Richard Castelow, originally from England, calls himself a master saddler, and has made saddles for the late Queen Elizabeth II, according to a report by KRQE.
“I make saddles and bridals and items in leather for a horse,” he told KRQE. “I served 22 years as a soldier, and then I was invited to, over the appointment, of master saddler to the Queen of England.”
Castelow, who now lives in the U.S., stopped in Albuquerque on his way to a horse show in California. Thieves stole his trailer, with all his saddle-making tools inside, while it was parked in the Home2 hotel parking lot off University.
“My tools are over 100 years old, and I’ve used them for 40 years,” Castelow said. “They were passed down to me by various master saddlers over the years. I’ve got pricking irons; they were stamped 1840.”
He called the tools irreplaceable. “These are not tools you get from Home Depot or Lowe’s,” Castelow said. “You know, these are tools precious, and looked after, and loved, if you can love a tool. My girlfriend burst into tears, and I’m like no, this just can’t happen, but, it did.”
It happens too often in Albuquerque. According to KRQE, a trailer on the west side, a food truck and the trailer that housed the Baby Bumblebee special shape balloon during Balloon Fiesta have been stolen recently.
“The majority of people you meet are good people and really pleased to meet you, and see you,” Castelow said. “It’s just the bad, you know the bad penny I suppose. We get them all over the world.”
Castelow is offering a reward for returning his tools but doesn't plan on continuing his trip to California.
“I can’t replace them, whatever tools I get nowadays are not going to be like them,” he said.
The Home2 hotel said the trailer theft was caught on security camera and the footage has been forwarded to the police. Anyone spotting a 2019 grey trailer that says ‘Tritan’ on it is encouraged to call Albuquerque Police.