PN,
Good story and that young Doctor was a quick learner.
I only left one dining-in night directly after the meal. While I was in a certain tandem rotor helicopter IPT, and for some reason that I couldn’t fathom, the section head decided to call a 3-line-whip at Taranto night at a secret RNAS airfield south of Bristol. WokkaDoctor (note he wasn't Canadian until after later) nursed one glass of wine throughout the meal and the skits, then drank water at the Loyal Toast. I waited until senior members and guests had exited the room (turning right to head for the bar), left it a few more minutes for the rest of the JOs to leave, then made a be-line for the door and turned left to the foyer just as my boss was exiting the boys room; being a bit worse for ware he started to offer to buy me a drink - without breaking step I wished him a good evening, walked briskly out of the building and drove home. Nothing was said the following Monday, I think those that stayed got so drunk that they forgot that I’d left early.