RIAT Colours Parade - echos of the Great Escape

[Roger D'Erassoff]

So, I gather that in these days of excessive harmony et al that some of our finest are spending a week confined to barracks at Innsworth practising marching up and down the square for the RIAT Colours Parade. Not allowed off camp, even if living just down the road, and even a curfew imposed!

Have seen the joining instructions...it suggests packing a chess set or a pack of cards to while away those long hours of confinement!

Sorry, but did I just dream the turn of the millenium or are we really still living in the 1940s? Images of Tom, Dick & Harry spring to mind just so the guys and gals can pop out for a pint.

Still, nothing like a good parade to improve morale all round and boost some air rank's career. :rolleyes:

[Pontius Navigator]

I think it is to stop both of them getting down the pub and spilling the beans.

There were 89 in the Stalag Luft 4 escape; I don't think we have that many spare bods now.

[Mr C Hinecap]

We might not have 89 spare bods now, but there are a few more than 89 down there at the moment. Not that I'm saying they have been taken away from essential tasks or anything - that would be daft.

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Rumour has it they are going to be away on this marching jamboree for 10 nights.................wonder if anyone in blunt command has worked out the cost of that :p

[Gainesy]

A Parade? At RIAT?

Why? What is the point?:confused:

[snapper41]

The point is that we are a military service, and we are being awarded a new Colour by our Sovereign (whom we serve). Do you think that we should just shamble up to her, say 'thanks for the new flag' and shamble away again? Also, it's a chance to show ourselves off to the public (whom we also serve). You must remember the public - the ones who are bemoaned on pprune so often for not knowing who we are or what we do? Think about it - it's about having some pride in who we are and what we do.

And before we start the 'what about overstretch' agument - did anyone see Trooping the Colour last month? The Army are far more stretched than us; just try suggesting to them that they scrap the annual event. Ask any of those that were on the parade if they think it's a waste of time.

[BEagle]

Military Airshows in the UK (http://www.military-airshows.co.uk/press06/riatprmay2008.htm)

Although I'm not entirely convinced that RIAT is the appropriate venue for such a ceremony.

But where else is there, these days?

[taxydual]

A thought,

Buckingham Palace Forecourt.

[airborne_artist]

Or Horse Guards - HM and the Duke could come in a carriage. Petrol's gone up, you know, and one's roof needs doing.

Plus they could get out the flypast plans from the Birthday Parade and use them. Less practice = less fuel used.

Win-win :ok:

[The Helpful Stacker]

Now, now 'Taxydual' thats far too old-fashioned and out of keeping with the direction the Royal Air Force train is taking.

To be honest I thought that an airshow would be too militaristic for current climes. Perhaps the Queen should have presented a non-gender non-race specific member of the RAF with a dove of peace at a mung bean collective in Islington.

[Wader2]

Must have misread it. I thought the point was the confined to camp bit. To avoid confrontation with the locals?

In case anyone tried for a home run?

[AHORSE]

I'm not too sure many of the public will get to see the event as it is being held on Friday, a non-public day. There will be many press there, up to 150, so we may get at least 15 secs on the BBC and maybe 30 on Sky and ITV.

[snapper41]

Must have misread it. I thought the point was the confined to camp bit. To avoid confrontation with the locals?

In case anyone tried for a home run?

Or to be sure that all involved are focussed, fresh and sober enough to put a decent effort into practicing a parade for HM The Queen?:hmm:

[airborne_artist]

I thought the point was the confined to camp bit.Have they checked out the kit in the gym? On fine, warm days it's good to exercise outdoors :ok:

[The Helpful Stacker]

Or to be sure that all involved are focussed, fresh and sober enough to give a decent effort into practicing a parade for HM The Queen?

Having taken part in a few Cenotaph Parades in London and as such also had the required practices at the home of the QCS, RAF Uxbridge I can't say that we were ever confined to camp.

In my experience all such measures do is create resentment for the event they are there to take part in, hardly the best way to motivate the troops.

[Roland Pulfrew]

Plus they could get out the flypast plans from the Birthday Parade and use them

God forbid that they should do that. Surely they would have to leave out the Nimrod element. Otherwise we might have a few barrack room lawyers telling us that it broke H&S rules :rolleyes: and was an insult. :E

Like BEags, I am not sure RIAT is the right place. Buck House would be more appropriate. Sadly long gone are the days where it would be staged at an airfield with a Royal Review

http://doghousecrafts.co.uk/handdaf/royrevodi/shack.jpg

[The Helpful Stacker]

Is that RAF Odiham?

[BEagle]

Yes, that's RAF Odiham 55 years ago...

318 RAF aircraft on static display, then a 27 minute flypast of 641 aircraft, starting with a Sycamore chugging past at 74 KIAS and ending with a Swift at 580 KIAS in afterburner..... (The Swift's engine seized on its way back to Chilbolton, but it managed to land dead stick!)

And this was only 6 weeks after the almost as impressive Coronation flypast.

[Gainesy]

Now I understand, I thought it was a march past of the present Colours to the spotters or something. Don't think much of the venue though.

[I've_got a traveller]

Surely some one is having a joke? Confining people to camp, two can rule, enforced PT, chess boards. I've also heard they've activated an EAW to achieve all this.
Whilst I agree that the parade should be done smartly etc I think that someone has gone way OTT. Why not treat it as something that people want to do and enjoy,rather than be imprisioned inside the wire with a radio made from a baked bean can and a coat hanger.
If people get out of line then the people in charge can sort it out like they have been doing for the last ninety years. The RAF really knows how to boost morale, no wonder people are leaving in droves.

At least we'll beable to see if the EAW system works, however I'm not so sure this was what it was designed for.

On the Positive side:Dsomeone will get promoted for this.

[airborne_artist]

Isn't it time the RAF contractorised this kind of activity? It's not exactly core business any more, is it?

An enterprising business could hire in 17-20 y/o spacies for a few days training before the big day and pay them the minimum wage. Think of the savings :ok:

I might suggest it. Do you think I'd get promoted?:E

[I've_got a traveller]

You'll never get promoted A. Artist.

Your plan makes far too much sense:rolleyes:.

[Union Jack]

The RAF really knows how to boost morale .....

Shades of the old announcement on main broadcast:

"All leave is cancelled until morale improves!":eek:

Jack

[taxydual]

I posted this memory on 'another' site some time ago. Could explain the reason the guys are locked up at Innsworth.


Quote

Late '70's at an 'aerodrome somewhere in England'.

The Boss (and I mean THE BOSS) was coming to make sure that we were looking after the aeroplanes and other bits and bobs she had loaned us.

The Staish thought it was time for his Other Buggers Efforts and so decided to put on a show. A Royal Guard of Honour came top in his list of bullsh*t.

Joe the SWO trawls the unit for blokes who were 6 feet tall (not 5'11", not 6'1", he wants an Other Buggers Efforts too) to make up the main cast of this performance.

Through an accident of birth, my oppo and myself satisfied Joe's requirements (and being a pair of prats by not hiding or limping ) we found ourselves on a shortlist of 2 to join Joe's Chorus Line.

Now, my oppo was (and still is) a bit of an imbiber of most things alcoholic (he draws the line at Toilet Duck), he also appreciates being allowed to gently enter the world of sobriety in the mornings, no sudden movements etc etc.

To his horror (and to the rest of us) Joe and the Staish decided upon practice, practice, practice weeks before the main event. To make matters worse, the practices were to take place at first sparrow's fart, so's not to deny us the pleasure of a full day at work afterwards.

Oppo did not take kindly to this. His personal time to recover from the reveries of the previous night were severely curtailed. His efforts at the rehearsals for Joe SWO's Royal Variety Performance were not good. His efforts at 'Present Arms' would have made Corporal (Dad's Army) Jones look like a Coldstream Guardsman.

Joe thought he was taking the pi$$, not realising that oppo was recovering from the pi$$.

Slowly it began to dawn on oppo, that perhaps to avoid more severe listening-to's and other threats from Joe and after all, it was for THE BOSS. (Oppo was a great fan of THE BOSS). that he should curtail his nightly intake and perhaps take up cocoa for the duration instead.

The transformation was dramatic!! A figure of immaculate military bearing arose from the ashes, the Staish smiled, Joe SWO smiled even Joe's dog smiled. Sod the Other Buggers Efforts they thought, this means Knighthoods all round. Arise Sir Staish, Arise Sir Joe SWO. I swear you could see it in their eyes.

Come the final Full Dress Rehearsal. Brigade of Guards, QCS, b@llocks to the lot of you, nobody could beat us, we were good.

So good in fact that the Staish invited the members of the Royal Guard of Honour to have a small alcoholic refreshment (at his expense) to thank us for our efforts (oh, and also to put the fear of God up us just in case it went wrong).

After drinkies and associated small talk 'it's Ma'am as in ham, not Ma'am as in farm' etc served up by Mrs (soon to be Lady) Staish. We were sent on our way to prepare for the Main Event the following morning.

Oppo, now rather pleased with himself, full of military bearing (and two halves of Staish's beer) decides that a pleasant pre-Royal evening in the company of the NAAFI'S finest barmaids is perfectly in order. Thankfully, I had a prior engagement with the future Mrs Taxydual so had to decline his kind offer of an evening of fine wines and glistening conversation.

I imagine, gentle reader, you can guess the rest.

Come the morn, you have never seen anything like it. 6' of military bearing converted into a potato sack. There were no two pounds of him hanging straight. His breath would have killed small children. His eyes had to be seen to be believed. 'There's life, Jim, but not as we know it'.

It went steadily downhill from there on in.

The March-on he stumbled. The Royal Salute he fumbled.

Then the crowning glory. During the Inspection came a barely audible bubbling noise followed an odour of such grossness that no-one could miss it for what it was. Oppo had sh*t himself. The looks of horror on the faces of the great and the good was spectacular. As to THE BOSS, she didn't turn a hair and carried on if nothing had happened. She knew though, oh she knew. I saw, for a fleeting second the look in her face as she passed me. "Tommo's sh*t himself again".

Where are you Tommo? If the telling of this doesn't force you out of hiding, nothing will.

Unquote.

[critter sized]

Thanks Taxydual - just coughed up my tea over the laptop. A top story that made my afternoon.

[Bladdered]

Brilliant Taxi, made my day.

Ed

[Green Flash]

Most excellent story Taxi! :ok:

[NutLoose]

#6 (http://www.pprune.org/forums/4219795-post6.html) (permalink (http://www.pprune.org/forums/military-aircrew/333546-riat-colours-parade-echos-great-escape.html#post4219795)) snapper41 (http://www.pprune.org/forums/members/122511-snapper41)

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 274


The point is that we are a military service, and we are being awarded a new Colour by our Sovereign (whom we serve). Do you think that we should just shamble up to her, say 'thanks for the new flag' and shamble away again? Also, it's a chance to show ourselves off to the public (whom we also serve). You must remember the public - the ones who are bemoaned on pprune so often for not knowing who we are or what we do? Think about it - it's about having some pride in who we are and what we do.

And before we start the 'what about overstretch' agument - did anyone see Trooping the Colour last month? The Army are far more stretched than us; just try suggesting to them that they scrap the annual event. Ask any of those that were on the parade if they think it's a waste of time.



Tell me are you some Pilot Officer or the likes that actually believes that last line, that the troops like to do parades, whilst getting confined to base like some immature school kids and at all that???? no wonder there is such a movement of personnel out of the RAF.

All the parades I had to do in the RAF were a waste of time and money...... Standing in a bloody row for HRH this and HRH that to walk past on the way to a plane was not what I would call Moral building, more like Moral sapping..... I remember someone getting charged for having unpolished Buttons on his Uniform (staybright) after comments from the chain smoking Lush....
Most people go to RIAT to see aircraft flying and displayed, not to watch a flag ceremony.......

Surely she could simply pop it in the post, or get one of those Government people to deliver it in person :E:E, you never know it might actually get through.......:ugh:

Speaking of parades, I can still remember the face on the SWO at a certain station in the South of England when I put in a redressal and requested to see the AOC on his visit......
Pressure was being used to get me to drop it until I said to OC Admin that I would march Smartly out onto the CO's parade straight up to the AOC and demand my interview, pointing out it had been denied me...it went through .......

Now not one to let some tinpot despot not let me have my legitimate moan :} and after not getting a decent answer I Promptly redressed the AOC in the interview, that caused a few dropped jaws :p what rankled was that all I got was a piece of bloody paper from further up the food chain, not the answer I was looking for and preventing me from getting a proper answer and being able to take it further.........

[minigundiplomat]

I can't for the life of me, understand why people are leaving the RAF. Can anyone help?

[LFFC]

Or to be sure that all involved are focussed, fresh and sober enough to put a decent effort into practicing a parade for HM The Queen?:hmm:

Sadly, if you treat officers and SNCOs as untrustworthy schoolchildren, then you can expect only one result! :uhoh:

[Warmtoast]

BEagle

And this was only 6 weeks after the almost as impressive Coronation flypast.

A lot less aircraft, 144 R.A.F. Meteors and 24 R.C.A.F. Sabres and unlike current royal flypasts that approach Buckingham Palace flying along The Mall from East to West, the Coronation flypast flew South to North. The run-in started at Bexhill-on-Sea on the the coast, then Biggin Hill, Westminster/St. James’s Park, Regent's Park and then broke up to go home.

This meant that the assorted coronet wearing royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony must have been like the crowd on the side-lines at Wimbledon: eyes right-left; right-left; right left and so on until all 168 aircraft had passed.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Image3-1.jpg

[KeepItTidy]

Got 2 lads of the shift dicked for this crap , I have no doubt there will be 2 PVRs on the bosses desk when they return. :ugh:

While we have 300 surplus AAMs on shift , The only 2 rigger techs we had the choice of using for squadron work and keeping the fleet airborne have been nobbled to do this pish for 2 weeks !!!

Well just to add to there misery may as well dick them for a xmas gulf stint :E , its not the fair force anymore

[Lima Juliet]

On Friday 11 July 2008 around 5,000 guests have been invited to the private event at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford where the new Queen's Colours will be presented to both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Air Force Regiment.The ceremony will begin with a Royal Salute and a flypast by four Typhoons from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and will also include a mass flyby of around 90 aircraft from throughtout the history of the Royal Airforce.This event will be the largest staged since the Queen conducted a Silver Jubilee review of the RAF at RAF Finningley in south Yorkshire in 1977 and is taking place the day before the main public two days at RAF Fairford where tens of thousands of people are expected to show up.

Group Captain Tony Barmby, the RAF project officer for the Queen's Colours presentation event, said: "For most RAF personnel, involvement in such a parade is a once-in-a-career experience.

"It would be easy to let the ceremonial aspects of the day eclipse the direct and hugely important link to current operations. As the historical rallying point in battle, the Queen's Colours represent that link.

"I'm very proud to have the chance to play a part," said Group Captain Barmby.


Proj O 'named and shamed' in open source on Wikipedia & BBC.co.uk (underlined for the slow-uptakers). Why can't we, as RAF Officers, let our JOs and SNCOs (the majority of them are Standard Bearers and Escorts) be responsible for their behaviour - if they f@ck up then nail them to the wall, but don't treat them like children before they've proved they are not worthy of this trust. Close supervision and a bit of leadership needed methinks...It's all too easy to impose "2 can" rules and confine them to barracks...Jeeezzz!:sad:

[davejb]

I was on quite a number of parades while I was in,
and if you are standing in the ranks they are a complete pain in the ****, anyone who finds the ceremony uplifting needs to get out more, or buy themselvs a box of toy soldiers to play with.

An antiquated waste of valuable manpower, that has a tendency to add straws to camels' backs.

[Bismark]

I didn't realise RIAT was an RAF event (although organised by RAFBT) to the extent that they could hi-jack what used to be a great corporate day, whilst the various display teams conducted their practices and the guests could have a good wander around the visiting aircraft whilst there were no hoards of the public to get in their way. I wonder if the corporate guests realise they are going to be coralled into attending this parade...whether they like it or not!

[Pontius Navigator]

So that's what they do to ex-F3 Sqn Cdrs. Top bloke, what went wrong?

[Lima Juliet]

Pontius

Rant on...

I suspect he has had pressure applied from his CO to ensure no adverse press from the potential of a drunken idiot going berserk in Cheltenham? But unless we trust our people and treat them like adults, only punishing when they screw up, then we are going to keep losing people to PVR and ORD. The "2 can" rule and removing the PR threat of bad behaviour is indicative of the culturally bereft way of thinking within the current RAF and its senior leadership. Unfortunately, when we went through the transition in the 90s of there being 'no place in the RAF for the eccentric and war-leader style officers of the past' (Bader, Gibson, et al) we are now reaping the whirlwind. The spineless jellyfish that climb over each other to get to the top cannot lead people and then have to do 'leadership by numbers' as they have no natural talent to fall back on - often creating ill-feeling amongst those serving for, or with, them at the same time. The "2 can" rule, evening curfew and "no you can't stay with your family even though they live 5 minutes away" is de-rigeur in the modern RAF and I opine that it is the selection process for our upper echelons that is the root cause.

When I'm in charge it will all be different :}

Rant off...

Meanwhile back to the Planet LJ...

[Lima Juliet]

AIDU

You haven't been to Cheltenham have you leon?

More times than I've had hot dinners(Montpellier Wine Bar, etc... every Fri/Sat night for 3 years). Isn't your picture of a great night out in nearby Gloucester?

LJ:ok:

For the ill-educated here is a picture of Montpellier Wine Bar...cracking cl@cker!

http://www.montpellierwinebar.com/images/front_main.jpg

[Lima Juliet]

There must be 2 Montpellier Wine Bars then! :}

[minigundiplomat]

Good Rant Leon!

And spot on. Unfortunately the spineless jellyfish have completely taken over so it's time to go.

MGD

and and

Just for AIDU

[Lima Juliet]

Cracking clacker eh? Looking at that photo I would say there are more blokes in it.

Well done Pike, I was wondering when someone was going to spot that...:D

Have a Google on the place and you'll read things like:

Whenever there's racing at Cheltenham the wine bar is packed.
It's also the place for after-work drinks for Cheltenham's well-heeled.
In summer, punters in shorts or floaty dresses use the cafe-style tables outside with pitchers of Pimms and huge G&Ts


If posh totty in summer dresses isn't your form then Gloucester it is for you my friend or the local Wetherspoons (think its called Moon on the Water if I remember correctly).

[Lima Juliet]

MGD

You're not off as well are you?

[minigundiplomat]

Yep,

got a year or so yet, but have decided the RAF and I have differing plans for the future.

I see no leadership at the top, and all the strong, capable leaders I see are leaving as they are fed up with endless trivia, PI's and initiatives and are exactly the capable people the airlines are looking for.

[Lima Juliet]

MGD
I read you loud & clear and I've got a couple of years to my ORD - things need to change.
LJ

[Grimweasel]

What a complete load of fecking pish!!!
How much will the flypast cost alone?? Talk about a waste of resources, it beggars belief??
Pish

[goudie]

If the participants, in a fairly straight forward parade, have to be confined to camp to ensure they are always present for drill, then discipline/trust must be at an all time low.
I find this action difficult to comprehend.
I would not have expected this to happen in the '50s/60s let alone today.

[NutLoose]

A bit of deliberate tick tocking seems to be in order........ or a nice twisted ankle or 10........

[BEagle]

Who on earth came up with such an unreasonable restriction on the human rights of our hard-pressed military personnel?

This must be unlawful - what is the alleged justification? Whose signature is on the joining instructions?

Truly the lunatics are running the asylum these days.....:mad:

I hope that mass redressing is the next step - followed by mass PVR.

[The Helpful Stacker]

We'll have to see if the Red Cross will stump up for one of these (http://www.gymnasticsequipments.com/gifs/vaulting-box.jpg) to help the inmates keep their fitness up, if you know what I mean.;)

The bit that baffles me about all this is why are the practices being done at Innsworth?

Surely somewhere known for its parade squares, ability to deal with large numbers of transiting troops and having a number of DI's on hand to assist, such as RAF Uxbridge or RAF Halton would have been a far better choice of location? Did an extremely blunt person with a Innsworth fixation have a hand in choosing the internment camp?

[taxydual]

Not sure if this link will work....

but...

I wonder if the RAF Central Bandmaster could be persuaded to include this in the repertoire

YouTube - The Great Escape Theme (1963 WWII film) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGLsTFjG44U)

:ok:

[BEagle]

The main gate at Innschwitz now has a welcoming new Mission Statement:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/Internet/amf.jpg

Have the goon boxes been delivered yet?

[Green Flash]

90+ flypast. But it's a 'private' do so no access to the base for the public, right? I presume someone has realised that the roads around Fairford will be gridlocked with the spotters, it will be mental. They'll be tramping over the fields, Whelford will be under siege and the transport infra for 10 miles will be in meltdown. Bet the Police and Security forces will be well happy. Brilliant :\

[minigundiplomat]

MGD, is that a year to do or a year before you PVR? Would you consider a move to another fleet? Fixed wing perhaps

No I am rapidly approaching my IPP, and no FRI would keep me in. Being rolled in chocolate and locked in a room with Girls Aloud wouldn't persuade me to stay.

My issue is not with the fleet. I love the Chinook, it's the service that is driving me out. Unfortunately, things like the formation of Stalag Innsworth don't even raise my pulse rate anymore. We have all been conditioned and worn down by a very long list of crap, trivia and poorly implementated change and just stare in bewilderment as such decisions screw us, and those around us.

In answer to your question Mac, a posting to fixed wing, SAR, UAV's in vegas or anywhere else doesn't interest me.

For all the blah about core values, it is the poor leadership and erosion of the RAF that has made my decision.

[airborne_artist]

Given that it's the public whose taxes pay for the aircraft and the lads/lasses that bend/mend them, I think it's a firkin shame that the event is taking place on a private day.

Great PR, RAF. Keep it up :D

[airborne_artist]

And here are the formation ironing display team, the Red Robins (anyone remember this?)

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/17214/7d/ccimg.shop.com/230000/232100/232155/products/45172455.jpg



http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B3664AAD-3BAE-4CB6-B3FE-A199554143E7/0/086.jpg

[NutLoose]

Is he really ironing a Jacket with the medals on it? :ugh: ROFL...

Just as well he hasn't got a sword, that could be mighty tricky:}

[noregrets]

#1's ironing board is far too low - his back should be straight and his elbow bent at 90 deg. Plus where's his rank slides?

#4's tie is too short and I've got a bad feeling he's wearing clippy braces...

What's happened to standards?

:E

[Aeronut]

and he is not using any protection, ironing cloth anyone?

[Wensleydale]

Is that the Press Office?

[Pontius Navigator]

the RAF project officer for the Queen's Colours presentation event, said: "For most RAF personnel, involvement in such a parade is a once-in-a-career experience.

And they will all think TFFT.

I think my last parade was an AOCs parade at ISK about 1978-79. It was Ffffffrezing. When the order came to take post or whatever I couldn't. My back had locked.

[Wensleydale]

The RAF Project Officer is undoubtedly correct about this being a once in a career event: do this once and then PVR.

[4mastacker]

The Helpful Stacker wrote:

The bit that baffles me about all this is why are the practices being done at Innsworth?



Come on, you don't expect an Innsworth-based blunty to have to travel, do you? The members of the Innsworth 'circle' used to get nose bleeds if they went beyond Cheltenham. And it saves them having to work out how to claim their T&S on JPA.

[Pontius Navigator]

:}I just read of a successful defeat at 2nd PUS level about a move from Innsworth. Swiss Des ruled against PUS. PUS and senior officers are spitting feathers, I am told, that the rank and file won using fact, logic and reason.

[gar170]

well after witnessing the 400 pongos on veterans day last Fri and the watching the older ones from ww2 Korea and Suez march on sun with pride through the town it is a pity that most of you don't seem to have the same pride shown by them.
It does make me wonder why join the military :rolleyes:

[Ali Barber]

Were the vets locked away for 10 days to practice?

[KeepItTidy]

4mastacker (http://www.pprune.org/forums/members/183597-4mastacker)


Come on, you don't expect an Innsworth-based blunty to have to travel, do you? The members of the Innsworth 'circle' used to get nose bleeds if they went beyond Cheltenham. And it saves them having to work out how to claim their T&S on JPA.


Agree 100% to save cash for the real troops , yet have the homogoblins and the gays get travel claims to join one bobby fest in London. Makes you wonder , really really wonder.

[Pontius Navigator]

Every year, in Guernsey, there is a parade with bands playing, flags flying and everyone marching. There are contingents from the RM Band Plymouth, an RN Guardship, the old salts and younger family members, police, St John's Ambulance, Sea Cadets, Marine Cadets, in short about everyone. The parade commander is an RNVR 2.5 and NO ONE practises before hand. True some have been doing it for 30 or more years, but it goes without a hitch.

As related above, there is a case where you can go too far.

[exscribbler]

MGD: We have all been conditioned and worn down by a very long list of crap, trivia and poorly implementated change and just stare in bewilderment as such decisions screw us, and those around us.

It's not just in the RAF - the b:mad:ds are everywhere. For God's sake keep your kids out of teaching - a shake-up every Tuesday has been our lot since 1979!

Just listen to the latest highly-experienced exponent of educational thought, the aptly named Ed Balls. He's an expert because he's been to school and doesn't it show? Some of the t*sser's ideas are coming round for the fourth time to my certain knowledge. :ugh:

[davejb]

Hmmm,
I think scribbly is demonstrating a somewhat 'right of left' bias here AIDU...and there are plenty of current teachers who are ex-military. Plenty of the decision makers in education have all sorts of ideas, based on their 15 minutes of classroom experience, it is these people who need to be told to **** off rather than those actually at the coal face.

[taxydual]

I've lost count of the number of parades/march pasts/Guards of Honour I took part in during my 25 years service.

The cocks up's were stunning. A few memorable one's;

Parade Commander who totally screwed up the running order of a Freedom of Doncaster parade and marched us into a cul-de-sac.

Route lining at East Retford, having to Present Arms to a mayor (in full mayoral kit) who had forgotten to take his bicycle clips off. The SWO, walking behind us muttering "No laughing, no laughing" almost brought the house down.

Same year, AOC's parade. At the last moment somebody unearthed a bugler and thought it wold be a good idea to 'Sound the Advance' at the start of the proceedings. No-one had warned us of this. AOC lands, Parade Commander orders 'Sound the Advance', Bugler bugles and one very pissed off FS shouts 'Charge', parade falls about laughing.

The whole of the OR's at Linton being marched (5 times) in front of the hangars on a very warm Friday evening because the JP Flypast Leader couldn't get the TOT right. That farce only ended because the jets were running out of fuel. (Oh, and having to march past the Studes crewrooms whilst they sat on the grass and drank beer. Good for morale that was).

Oh, I could go on.

The point I'm trying to make is that no matter how much rehearsing is done...........

[ralphmalph]

Having witnessed some "immaculate" Royal Air Force drill in the past. Perhaps 10 days is not enough practice?. ;-)

[An Teallach]

My favourite was the woodentop RSM who thought it would be a good wheeze to rehearse the route lining for the return of the Stone of Destiny at @ 5.30 am on a weekday in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh.

I can only assume he didn't realise the flats above the shops are occupied as he was unceremoniously told to shut the **** up and had a bucket of water thrown over him from a 3rd floor window.

[Union Jack]

" ..... he was unceremoniously told to shut the **** up and had a bucket of water thrown over him from a 3rd floor window."

"Gardyloo" lives!

Jack

[I'm Off!]

I think they have obviously been confined to barracks for the duration as the DI's realise what a tough job they have on their hands - trying to instill some military bearing on the Royal Air Force given only 10 days in which to do it. I don't envy them.....





Just thought I'd throw that hand grenade in, stand back and see what happens!!

[Charlie73]

* Correct me if I've got this wrong, there's personnel parade rehearsing for a week, they're NOT confind to camp but given a curfew, provided with sports, entertainments and bars, (even golf and flat screen TVs I've heard!) and staying in buildings - not tents??? Whilst I agree it's yet another task we have to fulfil, have a thought for your mates deployed elsewhere in the world, there's worse places you could be! We're in the military, get a grip. If you don't have a sense of humour you shouldn't have joined!!!:=

[taxydual]

I O

I'm in no doubt you are right.

However, was the Royal Air Force ever envisaged to have it's highly trained personnel do drill?

OK, I'll go for the basic marching from mess to hangar stuff, to get a body of men from scoff to fixing/flying aircraft. We all learned that cr@p in basic training.

The fact is the RAF is not the Brigade of Guards, it was never designed to be, we don't do 'public duties' a la Household Division. (QCS excepted, and they are volunteers, and bloody good too).

The whole point of this thread is to get someone to explain how (when the RAF is engaged in combat on two fronts; morale being at rock bottom; professionally trained people PVR'ing in droves; money and equipment being unavailable etc etc) the cost of this beanfeast is justified.

I'm all in favour of pomp and circumstance in it's place. But given the choice between a Silken Banner or a serviceable (and airworthy) aircraft, I know which I would choose.

[KeepItTidy]

Charlie73 Whilst I agree it's yet another task we have to fulfil, have a thought for your mates deployed elsewhere in the world, there's worse places you could be! We're in the military, get a grip. If you don't have a sense of humour you shouldn't have joined!!!:=

Although I know what you are saying Charlie , we got 2 lads there that have just done there stint out in the sandy places, as well as had 2 weeks of guard duty as of late as well , and to have this now with one just had a kid born , only reason they doing it as they were the only ones nominated by the bosses to do it , I can see from where I am that it is no wonder we are loosing guys , good guys with plenty to offer but they just are not getting a break.

ps I just want to know where it is laid down that you can only join the military with a sense of humour, I think you will find that discriminates people with no humour , mainly the leaders of the Military :)
But comments like that are from old school and you are more than likely a SNCO that works in a bay and does the occasional 4 month tour every 4 years , you have friday afternoons off work and have sportsdays. If im getting warm tell me to bugger off

[goudie]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44808000/jpg/_44808215_military466getty.jpgBet these guys weren't confined to barracks to rehearse for this important parade!

[taxydual]

Do I see some Air Force Blue following the Brown Jobs? Am I allowed to say that? Bringing up the rear, no that's even worse.

I'll stop this before it turns into a Carry On movie.

[NutLoose]

Charlie73 (http://www.pprune.org/forums/members/261737-charlie73)
Probationary PPRuNer

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1


RIAT Colours Parade
* Correct me if I've got this wrong, there's personnel parade rehearsing for a week, they're NOT confind to camp but given a curfew, provided with sports, entertainments and bars, (even golf and flat screen TVs I've heard!) and staying in buildings - not tents??? Whilst I agree it's yet another task we have to fulfil, have a thought for your mates deployed elsewhere in the world, there's worse places you could be! We're in the military, get a grip. If you don't have a sense of humour you shouldn't have joined!!!:=



So you find it acceptable to give people you expect in this day and age we live in to go off to war, a bloody curfew so they are tucked up in bed like good little children ? :ugh:

I suppose the Not so great leader of men the G/Capt in charge is also abstaining from being out after dark...... I bet not. :mad:

Why not go the whole hog, give em all ASBO's and ankle bands to monitor their location.......:=

[gar170]

trying to instill some military bearing on the Royal Air Force given only 10 days in which to do it.
I think it will take alot longer than that.

[Cmn2644]

***BREAKING NEWS***

The curfew has been lifted !! Hurrah !!

Maybe the powers that be have been reading this thread ... or they realised it wasn't enforcable after most got in from town at 3am !!!

Unlike the great escape, the biggest problem seemed to be how to break back in !!

[goudie]

the biggest problem seemed to be how to break back in
Did that once RAF Sylt (under 21, midnight curfew) straight into the bloody dog compound!

[NutLoose]

Seem to remember some skinny dippers at RAF Bruggen avoiding the plods jumping over the fence starkers into no mans land between the two borders.. wearing nothing but a smile..

[Topsy Turvey]

Can confirm a number of succesful "Home Runs" to Cheltenham & Gloucester have taken place.

PN
I just read of a successful defeat at 2nd PUS level about a move from Innsworth. Swiss Des ruled against PUS. PUS and senior officers are spitting feathers, I am told, that the rank and file won using fact, logic and reason

I thought the RAF had left Innsworth? Or is this a reference to Ministers shooting down the SPVA's senior managements proposal to relocate the JCCC and Medal Office? If so then thank **** for Ministers (not something I say very often!). The SPVA Management Board have deservedly got egg on their face and given the poor service they have provided in recent years and for inflicting JPA on us, it is no more than they deserve. :ok: Lets just hope, we don't hear that the Board get bonuses or gongs as compensation

Shame Ministers did not see sense and stop, or at least delay the move into HW of PTC/PMA. I understand the PTC & PMA buildings will sit empty and locked for 2 years until the Army move in. What a waste, the PTC building was only built 12 years ago and I gather it is a bit cramped at HW.

[SirPercyWare-Armitag]

Will do some of our people some good to remember that they are in a military organisation. If they feel hard done by for spending a few days on ceremonial duty, I commend that they take a few books to read. Any of the WW1 and WW2 books would do for a start.

[Roger D'Erassoff]

Ah good, a nice paternal and patronising attitude. The issue isn't the parade (always good for the public to see, even if they aren't invited) or even the 10 days worth of practice (which arguably they need), but the heavy-handed attitude that decreed the requirement to live on base and imposed a curfew.

If the curfew was such a good idea, then why has it been lifted?

And I'm sure the good chaps have plenty of time to do their historical studies whilst on their harmony breaking detachments...in fact it is good to see that the historical military spirit of saying 'up yours' to pomposity and petty restrictions lives on! :D:D:D

[taxydual]

Also, Sir PWA, I would imagine that the vast majority of the 800 don't need reminding of their Military Organisation membership. The medals they wear on their chests, awarded for service in Sandy Places in current times, will be a constant reminder.

[taxydual]

Roger D'

in fact it is good to see that the historical military spirit of saying 'up yours' to pomposity and petty restrictions lives on!

Regretfully, only on this Forum. I've perused the E-Goat site and there's hardly a comment from currently serving Members of the RAF.

I hope the 'banter', the 'characters' and the fun that made RAF life what it was, (as demonstrated ably on Pprune), has not been weeded out of our modern counterparts.

[Pontius Navigator]

TT, you have is exactly although I believe some Air assets are still there too.

You can close military bases, you can post servicemen, and you can offer civil servants relocation but you can't make them go.

A while back they were going to move Daws Hill to High Wycombe. Hardly the end of the earth but to some civil servants it was a step too far on their daily commute. When you are used to walking or cycling to work you don't want a 10 mile drive. They left in droves. The move didn't happen and they can back.

I don't know if they ever did close Daws Hill. If they had moved there would have been even less space at High Wycombe.

[minigundiplomat]

Will do some of our people some good to remember that they are in a military organisation. If they feel hard done by for spending a few days on ceremonial duty, I commend that they take a few books to read. Any of the WW1 and WW2 books would do for a start.


Papa Romeo India Charlie Kilo!

[BEagle]

One feels that the erstwhile multi-ringed polymorphic poler has never, in his vast experience of man management, learned that the carrot achieves better results than the stick......

[14greens]

Hope they are all being made to stump up for PAYD as well, now that would be bloody insulting to say the least

Mate of mine, (WO) confined to base, met his wife today, he gets back from this debacle then a week later back out to theatre for ooh how many times is it now!!!!? And before there is any comments mate in the same outfit doing the same job has hit 1000days in theatre so did not ask but this bloke must have similar if not longer out there!

I have done the RAH uxbridge week, luckily the QCS treat us like adults and its up to you to make sure you are fit for duty in the morning, and pretty sure QCS speed marching would wake anyone up

As for the Queens B Day parade, errr correct me if am wrong but if you join certain regiments like the guards do you not expect to do a fair bit of parade work as well as the normal green job stuff!!!!

[Ogre]

I've read through all the posts on this thread with interest. As an Ex-OR who did more than one or two parades (including an AOC's one at a Northern outpost many years ago, when the OIC asked for permission to march off was told "No, it was a shambles. Do it all again") I can sympathise with a lot of the comments raised.
However, one point did strike me after a comment someone made. For the first time in a long time the majority of those present at the parade with have been awarded at least one gong. All those parades I did where all you got was the SNCOs with their undetected crime medals and the occasional FI or NI clasp, this time there will be a lot of people with the GSM for time served in sandy places.
Or have they stopped giving that out as well?

[Pontius Navigator]

Ogre, indeed the GSM is still around but it is so hot everywhere now that I think they issue real gongs from VC down.

BEags, poller? I thought he was a nav :(

[Lima Juliet]

***BREAKING NEWS***

The curfew has been lifted !! Hurrah !!

Maybe the powers that be have been reading this thread ...

The big issue now is that the guys allowed out don't screw up and get us all treated like children again with words from the leadership of "I told you so...". A bit of All-Rank Peer-Policing required methinks.

Good news that sense has prevailed, does that also mean that local personnel can travel from their homes?

LJ

[BEagle]

BEags, poler? I thought he was a nav

Well, that might explain a lot......:p

[middleground]

It amazes me that this has gone on for 6 pages. I think I have read only one accurate fact (Curfew lifted) so far. It would appear that some of you are budding fiction authors.
So here are the facts. There was a curfew of 23:30 for personnel to be back on camp on foot or by 23:00 if in a vehicle, and by deffinition of the curfew there was no confinment to camp and therefore nothing stopping people who lived close by going home.
The curfew was liffted on sunday.
There is also no 2 can rule not even a 3, 4 or 5 can one.

Your posts were a good read anyway.
I look forward to the first novel.:zzz:

[Not Long Here]

So Middleground,

If you walked back from seeing the wife you could be back by 2330, if you drove back 2300. But you had to be back......................

What century do these idiots live in?

[Cornerstone958]

Anyone know what the timimgs for the parade are for tomorrow:confused:

[Mmmmnice]

Judging by the way the summer is going it will p*ss down; with lots of soggy personnel and no flypast?
On an unrelated note: my lunchtime run was brightened considerably at the sight of the Vulcan stooging around Benson - despite no support from the MOD.

[airsound]

If you can't get/are not invited to the parade and flypast, BBC1 are covering it (not all live) from about 1400 to 1500. If you want a specialist aviation commentary on the flypast, which starts at 1430, press the red button.

airsound

[mystic_meg]

BBC NEWS | UK | Queen to mark RAF's 90th birthday (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7501006.stm)

'RAF Marnham' - priceless....:ugh:

[TheSmiter]

FAIRFORD EGVA 111100Z 111221 26012KT 9999 BKN025 TEMPO 1221 5000 SHRA BKN022 PROB30 TEMPO 1216 3000 +TSRA BKN018CB

Good luck guys and gals at or over the ceremony today - I'm sure all the hard work and grief that you and your partners have had to put up with recently will at least be appreciated by HMQ.

And remember - never scrub on a forecast!

[oxoneil]

I'm about 7 miles from Fairford and it's just started lashing down and the sky is very dark. Not going to be a fun afternoon me thinks.

[MReyn24050]

I just hope the rain held off .
Just caught the tail end of the report on BBC News 1300 hrs and it looked as though the skies opened up as they they were marching past/off. Poor devils.

[Al R]

If it ain't raining, it ain't training. Apres moi la deluge indeed, stag on lads - happy days :}.

QCS tip top as usual. Why, as the BBC bloke put it, couldn't some ac take part in a flypast if it was raining? By the way, I seem to remember the aeroplanes doing a quick tour of some stations en route home last time. Will that happen again for this one, or are all dispersing straight home?

[Brian Dixon]

Enjoyed watching the event on the Beeb. Excellent commentary, Airsound. Thank you.

Brian :ok:

[Gainesy]

Who was that Beeb bint with the hair like a bad electrician?

[wub]

Kate Silverton

[D120A]

And another 'thank you' to Sean Maffett for the specialist commentary, courtesy of the digital red button. After, during the first half, seeing Merlins labelled as Pumas, the name strips transposed of the Flt Lt and Cpl who received the new Colour, plus one or two other hiccups, I was more than ready for a commentary by a former RAF colleague during the last section.

This new digital TV thing is actually a blood-pressure reducer.

:ok:

[eagles70]

Having taken part in the parade which was an honor, I travelled back V Late last night only to get in and see the coverage that the BBC supplied. I was appalled that one the biggest parades in the RAF's history only attracted 5 minutes of airtime. It does not put into context all the hard work and trench foot that the girls and boys endured down at Innsworth/Fairford. Are there anymore extend clips anywhere else on the internet?

Nearly drying out!!!!

[Dunhovrin]

-- Honour --

[taxydual]

He offered his offer,
She honoured her honour
and all night long,
it was offer and honour.

Well, if you had been locked up for 10 days and then managed to get home...... What would you do?

[mike_alpha_papa]

As a guest at the parade yesterday, I would like to offer my congratulations to all who took part, not only those on the square - Support Sqns, Escort Sqns, Colour Parties and bands - but also those in the background and in the air later. A great spectacle indeed. Just a pity the BBC didn't do it, and the flypast, the credit it deserved.

Just about dryed out now!!

MAP

[Stupid Boy]

I was on the parade and I must say that I have never read such a collection of ill-informed, whinging crap in all my life. Agreed, we should not have been there in the first place, but at the end of the day this is one of the things that we are paid for.

I am a SNCO with over 20 years service, and I am delighted that I will never be doing this again. However, it was certainly not the ball-ache which I thought it would be. Thanks to all from the EAW, caterers, DIs etc. From the point of view of the Standard Party, we were treated as adults at all times, and having done all the practice, we were delighted that the parade went ahead.

What really amuses/irritates me, is the number of SNCOs and Officers who were guests at the parade who did not have a chest full of medals. For example, saw a Flight Sergeant with only one medal - the chocolate Golden Jubilee Medal! Where have all these people been hiding? Perhaps this is the reason why so many people in the RAF are p*%%£d off. There is a two tier system in operation; those who do, and those who wimp off dets or live at Command :p

[Spit the Dog]

As a player at yesterdays soaking, what came across on the last long long bus journey back to the DOB, was that nobody took the time to come into the changing area and thank the 750 troops for their efforts over the last 9 days. Would have been a nice gesture..thats all !

[Spit the Dog]

Fully agree with StupidBoy as well, hats off to Mobile Catering Unit and the attitude of the DI's. By the way, highly recommend Cheltenham for an afternoon on the lash! Will be returning !

[Alber Ratman]

To Stupidboy, Spit the dog and everybody else involved.. well done!! A standard presentation parade is an absolute bitch in OR issued shoes. Having had to do several parades (including two back to back at the closure of flying at Colt) in the last few years gives you an understanding on the effort required (that will be largely forgotten by some on this forum, if ever realized at all!)

People not going on DWR's... No shock's as my last one was brought foward by a year and to a different location!

[BluntM8]

I was on the parade too - carrying a Sqn standard with an incredible amount of pride. It really was an honour to be involved. The misinformed BS on this thread is staggering - especially as most of it comes from those who weren't there!

At ALL times I was treated as an adult and with respect. The EAW worked their socks off to provide for us with virtually no resources. To be able to sit in the Sgts mess with a cuppa and watch a big screen telly was something I hadn't expected - just one example of the welfare package provided for us. The DIs worked hard to make sure that all of us were kept informed - oftentimes they were just as in the dark as us. How they kept their patience with us all asking what was coming up next I don't know. The team spirit was staggering - morale never became an issue despite the torrents of rain for the entire time. My memories of the fortnight at Innsworth will be of near constant laughter - nothing like the rubbish spouted above.

Blunty

[4mastacker]

Stupid Boy wrote:
For example, saw a Flight Sergeant with only one medal - the chocolate Golden Jubilee Medal! Where have all these people been hiding?

What?? Not even an LS&GCM on a FS?? Mind you, a det down to MPA hasn't been qualification for a medal since the conflict finished and there are plenty of folks around who have done more than one tour down there.

I take your point that with all the goings-on in the world that there should be very few people around now who have nothing to show, but it doesn't mean that they have done nothing. Qualification for some medals requires a set period of time in theatre before being awarded (the GSM NI comes to mind - 27-day dets didn't count!!)

[Alber Ratman]

Mount Pleasant is a holiday camp compared to others I can mention..:hmm:

[taxydual]

Spit the Dog

No doubt there will be a signal sent to all stations from CAS, thanking you for your efforts. Well done, by the way. It looked good.

I hear what you say though, an Airship saying "Thanks boys", in person, wouldn't have come amiss.

Regards

[bondo]

Have to agree with BluntM8. The staff of the EAW worked hard to make ths stay at Innsworth as comfortable as possible. The catering was good and the R&R in Cheltenham was top notch.

As to the parade itself it seemed to go well and thanks to the the DIs who needed a sense of humour when dealing with us non QCS types. It was not the ordeal that many have posted about from afar.

[circle kay]

SB,
In some trades, very few Middle East EAW Detachment places at FS or WO, so as 4mastacker says the guys or girls in question may have many tours ‘down south’ with no ribbons to show for it.

I was also on Parade; lots of thanks to the DIs, EAW staff and especially the MCSU (are they still called that? It’s difficult to keep up with all the abbreviation changes even if you read all the Air Power glossies).

The most heartening thing for me about the whole time was the performance and the very evident team spirit of the young lads and lasses of the 2 Support Sqns; they were brought together from stations all over the Service only 3 days before when we as the Standard Parties arrived. The standard of the drill from them was very impressive and was a credit to the hard work of the DI staff.

The only down side for me was the number of people in the stands on the sides of the Dais both in civilian clothing and quite a few in uniform at a rank level that should have known better, who decided to leave the parade after HM and CAS but before both Colours had been marched off, perhaps they could see the coming rain, but poor form.:=

[Big Unit Specialist]

Not poor form - they were briefed to join HM for a spot of lunch .....

[circle kay]

BUS

Were they briefed to leave the parade before the Colours had been marched off? If so it appeared to come as quite a surprise to the Parade Commander, the 2 Escort Sqns and half the Band that planned (and practiced) to march the Colours off the parade square the runway side of the stands; but found the route now had a stream of the great and the good on the way to Din-Dins.

[BaldieDash]

Just wanted to add congratulations from the grandstand to those involved in the paddling pool parade ground and in the air. The carping here on PP should not be allowed to deflect from an outstanding performance. :D

My No1 shoes are Fe**ed and the uniform is in intensive care but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Having seen Friday's performance I do agree with one point made earlier on this thread, that we should have done this somewhere more public than a closed day at RIAT. Failing that, just somewhere with a concrete car park.

[Stupid Boy]

With ref to my earlier post about the FS with only one medal, I have taken on board the various comments about the fact that some people may go on dets to places where medals are not awarded. Did not mean to cause any offence :ouch:

Does anybody know if coverage of the whole parade will become available, as the short offering from the afternoon BBC programme was rather disappointing?

[cooheed]

circle kay

Yes, they were briefed to leave after HMTQ had left to get on their buses as her time was tight, and this was done before the march on, by a RAF spokesperson. However, that instruction was only for those dining with her for lunch. The attempted exodus of some people who were not dining with her, and obviously were too high and mighty to listen to the original instructions by said RAF spokesperson, was the only downside of what was a superb parade.

[circle kay]

Coolheed,
Agreed, truly a once in a career event. Although I understand that one or two on parade were also on the square at Finningley in 77!

[airsound]

Belated thanks for kind comments about the red button BBC commentary. I was delighted to have the opportunity to do it.

On the question of the show cancellation, I emailed Tim Prince to suggest that, since this was the first time in 29 years I hadn’t been doing one of his shows, it was obviously all my fault. I got a gracious reply. In the words of his late lamented RIAT partner, Paul Bowen, I think Tim’s rather ‘low’ today.

airsound

[PeterHai]

My son and I were among the lucky ones to have a ticket for the general viewing stand. May I pass on our thanks to all those who took part or supported the parade and flypast. It filled both of us with pride that we were part of such a historic event and, even though both of our No1s etc are in a sad state, we would do it all again tomorrow.

[BluntM8]

My number 1s are also ruined. They look absolutely awful despite my best efforts to restore them. I intend to press-to-test on getting them replaced - it's hardly my fault they were trashed, is it!

[Spit the Dog]

Got an appointment booked already for tailor at Halton.

[BluntM8]

On spec, or have you been told you're entitled to a new set?

Whilst mine are ruined - pretty much exactly as VP describes - I'm not going to go to the tailors on the expectation that I'll get a new set bought for me just yet. What would be nice is a signal or suchlike from Air Command authorising the replacement of our kit. Until then, I'm holding my breath on it!

[piran]

Just ignore the cynics and complainers. I was very proud to see my Sovereign present my Service with a new colour last Friday. Yes, the BBC coverage was minimal but it does not take away the importance of celebrating 90 years of the world's first independent Air Force. Oh yes before the whingers complain, I have also been detached many times to hot and sandy places but I joined to serve my nation. And yes we are working hard, all of us. That's what most of us do - but a tiny very vocal minority complain at everything. We are all volunteers so if you do not like it go and work for Tescos or British Airways.

My colleagues in the Army and Royal Navy are pretty proud of their traditions. We have got much to be proud of in the RAF as well; including the Battle of Britain, the sacrifice of Bomber Command, the vital role of air power in the Falklands and both Gulf Wars etc etc etc.

[BluntM8]

That's exactly my point. I've always taken care of my uniform - I marched off the parade square at Cranwell in those ones - and the fact that they're now wrecked is hardly my fault. I put my hand in my pocket for a new hat last week when instructed to do so without complaint. Could the RAF not do the same for me? I'm very proud to wear my uniform and I don't want to be seen in a bag of nails! It's hardly like they've been wrecked by my neglect.

Many people on that parade square gave up a lot of time and effort, and several weekends, without complaint for their service. Our pride in our service means we want to wear the uniform in the best possible fashion. We can't all afford to shell out to replace the damaged kit. Perhaps it's appropriate for the top brass to show their recognition of us by buying us a new blue suit?

Blunty

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Not sure why folks are worried about the cost of a new No1's, surely they are free............never paid for one yet in 34 years :ok:

[Aerials]

During WWII, the troops lucky enough to be evacuated reported for duty back in UK in whatever they stood up in and many were billed for equipment lost. I don't think that things will have changed much in the last 60-odd years, so don't expect too much and you wont be disappointed! :ok:
Aerials

[Cornerstone958]

Is it not possable to claim on your House/kit Insurance if you are expected to pay. No cover :confused:
My view is that your kit should be replaced FOC mine always was but then I PVR'd a number of years ago.
Cornerstone

[Green Flash]

Can you claim the cost of replacing your No 1's via the taxman? The tax return has a section for clothing that you have to buy as part of your job, which you can claim tax relief on.

[BEagle]

Ah, that familiar 'wet dog' smell!

Some years ago, long before the dung-eaters got their grubby hands on Wattisham, I was volunteered to 'command' a freedom march through Ipswich. There would be the RAF, some RAFA, ATC etc all following my sword-toting stroll through the streets.

Come the day and the weather-guesser said that there might be the odd spot of slight drizzle, but nothing worse. So, Plan A was to get out of the bus at the drop-off point, meet the old timers and cadets, then march down to the god-shop. Plan B (if pissing down) was to take the bus to the god-shop.

The 'slight drizzle' began to look a little more than 'slight'; in fact distinct raindrops could be seen on the road. But nothing short of a cloudburst or nuclear war was going to persuade the old buggers of RAFA to take the bus. So off we all went....and at about PNR the heavens opened!

We arrived at the god-shop pretty well soaked, then steam came off our uniforms as we did the stand up and pretend to sing, kneel down and mumble, daydream through the god-botherer's sermon routine, then fall in outside looking rather less than pristine in crumpled No.1s which by then smelled of wet labrador.

Off we squelched, with a copper on a motorbike keeping our path clear. Only one minor idiot, some peacenik on a pushbike, tried to obstruct us. "Tell him to piss off or I shall stick this sword through his spokes, then up his arse", I hissed to the motor-plod. "Move along now, sir" was what he actually said to the bloke.

We finally made it to the RAFA building bordering on hypothermia. But the old boys had loved it, they'd marched through the town with medals clinking and were as proud as Punch. So they pressed copious libations on us until we finally poured ourselves back on the bus and made our way back to the station!

Met men - aren't they truly wunnerful!

[Cmn2644]

I think we are all having the same problems with our 1's.
I take it everyone is aware they can be dry-cleaned free of charge. Clothing / Barrack stores are usually the drop off point - takes about a week.

Well done to all on the parade ! Like all my military activities, always seems alot better after the event !!

[4mastacker]

I'm sure that some of you will remember the 75th parade at Marham in 1993 and that the weather was remarkably similar. Although the parade itself was held in a hangar, many on duty that day got absolutely soaked and their uniforms were fit only for the bin. ISTR that our OC Supply applied his discretion and authorised free replacement for uniforms that were beyond repair/dry cleaning. Have a word with your friendly, neighbourhood chief stacker and see if he/she will do the same.

[RigPig]

My uniform is also trashed, though it is at the station dry cleaners at the moment, I will have to see if it still fits me when I get it back. The shoes have been completely destroyed, they are back to leather now as the polish all crazed and had chunks lift out. Must be the way I do them.
Top marks to the DOB staff, especially the cooks.
I am disapointed by the tv coverage and the amount of photos on the RAF website, lots of regiment, but lacking anything about the support squadrons, especially as I was one of the guides, so should be easy to spot on the pictures.

Overall it was an honour

[jamessunhill]

I feel very proud to have been part of the event too.

My No1's aren't bad (unlike some of the guys here) and I had to wear mine again yesterday (we did a lining party for the President of Nigeria at Heathrow).

My No1 shoes are still soaked and they'll need taking right back to the leather and starting over again, so I've made my No2's into No1's and my No1's will be come my No2's when they finally dry out.

I have to aggree with RigPig about the DOB staff. They did a brilliant job setting Innsworth up for us and looking after us while we were there.

I got to know a few of them during our time there as I ended up working the bar 4 times in the 2 weeks.