In defence of Danny's erstwhile colleagues, they weren't all rabid anti HM Forces ogres. At Fairford we had our own guy, who was most accommodating. Arriving back from the Changi Slip, I duly declared my latest acquisition, a Tuner Amp.
"So that's a tape recorder then", he pronounced having seen it.
"Well it's actually a Tuner Amp", I replied (slowly so that he could take it in).
"Which would make it a type of tape recorder then", was his reply.
"OK, it's a tape recorder" I acknowledged in defeat.
"No problem then, it's free of duty as it's for educational use, isn't it?"
"Yes of course", I muttered, as pennies at last began to drop!
In contrast, the CPO at Lyneham in earlier times was renowned for being in a foul mood if Swindon Town (I think he sat on the Board) had been beaten that day. On inbound flights the Sigs duties included monitoring the Classified Football Results lest retribution awaited us!