My experience:
Some years ago I was staying with friends in Kent. A local and his wife were invited to join us for dinner. Turned out he had been a VERY distinguished Air Chief Marshal. On meeting him and saying how wonderful it was to meet him and using his rank to address him( his wartime ops. were incredible. )
NO said he, please call me Bob, I am no longer IN the RAF, we were both pilots.
For the rest of the evening he treated me, a retired Flt Lt, as if I were his favourite son, marvellous.
Visitors to the RAF club will see a room dedicated to him.
....and there was one of my students at SORF, an Air Commodore, OC. CFS designate. Like all my hstudents invited him home for a spag. . Bol and a glass or three of wine. Of course I addressed him as Sir.
my name is ROY not sir in your home, now when can you both join me for dinner in Louth, my treat !
Last edited by RetiredBA/BY; 26th Jan 2021 at 12:47.