Captain
How awfully nice of you to say so - must be a mis-ident (as I remember not all that uncommon during your radar courses!!).
Nice to see some sensible discussion for a change.
vwatchtc
Yes there are a number of the ATCOs you describe at CATC and you make my point at the end - if the ATCO public at large continue to hear that it is a dead end posting and that only the "dross" go there then they are not likely to volunteer themselves. I would encourage all ATCOs to go to CATC for a liaison visit. I suggest you'll almost certainly be very surprised at how much it has changed.
The other posters have also hit the nail on the head - it is a lack of planning and investment and the management commitment to invest in training people properly that is the problem and continues to be the problem not just in the UK.
cheers
Granny