For the first couple of terms at Locking,1961, we could only go off camp in No.1s, even when going on leave. No problems then in having a beer, coffee and lighting up in a pub or café.
Reminds me of an incident many years ago, when young Teeters was training at Ternhill.
A number of us - well a car load - had ventured as far south as Shrewsbury on a Saturday, for some lunchtime drinking - as you do.
One of our number was a re-roling sqn ldr, a suitable bad influence on young lads
comme moi.
As we were in the pub, a couple of (Cosford?) apprentices in uniform appeared, and were drinking adjacent to a couple of (very) hairy rockers and their young ladies (sic). Said rockers gave apprentices a hard time - particularly over their shorn locks, and it looked at one stage as if it might all get physical.
Whereupon, our sqn ldr mentor commented:
"If we were a decent regiment, we'd join those lads and all get stuck in!"
Fortunately not necessary, and in fact the rockers soon departed - sans young ladies - who eventually left with the apprentices - looking as if their afternoon entertainment would be more than just playing Scrabble
- result!