Times change and thus we are forced to as well. The moment that single members could move out of the Mess into there own property spelt out the writing on the wall. Does anyone at all live in them now on a permanent basis? Those magnificent pseudo Georgian piles now run more by plc's rather than pmc's are fast losing their raison d'etre.
That tendency will have been accelerated by the difficulty of Squadron Associations arranging reunions on the station that their serving squadron inhabits. Mine has all but abandoned the effort and has gravitated to inviting the Squadron to a less than local hotel, rather than the latter inviting us to its Messes (either Sgts & WOs, or Officers). I would have thought that enhanced the security threat to serving and ex-serving individuals, but then again I don't see the big picture...