FED (#102) and Al R (#108) et al,
Should've been a tie with a one-rung ladder, for us unfortunates on Limited (ie Nil) Career Permanent Commissions ! Are any left ? - all dead, I suppose (except me !)
The idea surfaced in 1952. Anyone know when it ended ? (the advantage was that the RAF had thrown away the only stick they'd had to beat you with). Although some managed to transfer to Branch Commissions, with a slim chance of a "scraper". But not in ATC,
AFAIK.
Well the pension has come in handy, at least !
Danny.