as taught at OCTU many years ago that officers may put in a brief appearance
Fists start flying? That seems to me a very old fashioned view and more akin to the army or navy I would have thought.
However, senior officers putting in a brief visit (if they were invited) was all that was expected of them at the retirement parties I ever went to, including my own.
After I had left the RAF I went to a Chief/tech's leaving do. It was held in the Sgt's mess. Dinner was Silver Service, and not only did the Winco/tech turn up but also the Station Commander, who on leaving ordered the barman to keep the bar open as long as the party required it to!
The same etiquette existed at the company I worked for. A director would turn up at ones 'leaving do' say a few words, shake hands and bugger off...job done!