Mak
Bookworm is spot on..but as I'm SATCO there, I can probably shed some more light...
You were asked to report 'crosswind' because the circuit was busy. That would give the ATCO the chance to assess your progress against the other circuit traffic and give you your number in sequence....(you'd normally be told to report downwind and told how many others were in the circuit.)
In this instance, given that you were 'number 4' I suspect you were supposed to follow the guy turning downwind. By failing to do so, you 'became no. 3'....which might explain the ATCO's irritation...you hadn't complied with his/her plan and created some extra workload/RT calls. Obviously your little 'faux pas' didn't warrant a 'FAIL' on your QXC form so can't have been adjudged as too serious.
At Gloucestershire, 'Satisfactory' is the usual comment that we put on QXC forms...although I have had cause to issue 'Inadequate' for airmanship and 'Without Incident' for landings before. There's no guidance provided for ATCO's to decide what constitutes 'Good' airmanship or landing, so whatever we put will be somewhat subjective.
The Assistant in the Briefing Room does, however, check with ATC before signing the form....it's normally 'phoned across with your inbound details after your landing...that's why the invoice is also ready when you reach the Terminal! We normally have 'booking in' details for Qualifiers so will be watching!
My ATCO's often have to intervene to keep the sequence sensible and safe, as was the case in pulse1's visit. This in itself is not a huge problem as we have an ATM to help us and enough local knowledge to know which instructors/pilots/aircraft can be relied upon to 'Make a short approach' if required, but I think the root cause is more fundamental.
Circuit size/discipline is a perennial problem, that was raised again briefly at the Flight Safety Meeting that we held today. There are many different types, speeds and wildly varying levels of ability in our circuit on a regular basis. Subsequently, the problem will never be solved entirely....but there's no excuse for some of the V bomber circuits we see!
As an ATCO, I find it frustrating to see the number 1 aircraft in the circuit on a 2 mile final doing 65KT, when the three following are having to extend downwind. I have often had 3 or more aircraft supposedly 'in the circuit' but actually outside the ATZ!!
As a pilot, I get scared when I'm at 1000' over Cheltenham High Street on a Saturday afternoon!
Our local flying Code of Practice does give ATCO's the option of sending around traffic which is extending the circuit unecessarily. This does happen but, all too often, the last thing you need when it's that busy is someone else getting in the way as they bimble off towards the deadside to rejoin.
As for 'Bo!!ocking' on the RT, that's not something I condone or consider acceptable....questions will be asked!! That said, we've been extremely busy these last few months (20 000 movements since the beginning of August) and tempers can get frayed. I've had my moments when my patience has been pushed just too far but I do try to contain my shouting and swearing until I've stopped transmitting!!!
Finally, I hope you were impressed by what you saw at Gloucestershire Airport and that you'll come back! There aren't too many GA friendly places around these days with 3 licensed, hard runways and full ATC....and I can personally recommend the all day breakfast in the new Aviator restaurant, 100 yds from the Terminal entrance.
PS Buy some fuel next time and we'll even give you a discount landing fee....
PPS We'll have a grass runway by next Spring too...possible venue for a Pprune Fly In next summer??