Mess Dress Rules
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Mess Dress Rules
Many moons ago - mid -70's, a chap, on entering Her Majesty's establishment at Sleaford, was introduced to Mess Dress Rules....Now as I recall it hats in civilian dress( ladies, raised to, for the use of) had just gone....however Mess Rules were Suits Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, Sports Jackets Wednesdays and Weekends.......Jeans, 
never.
I wonder, are Mess Dress Rules these days more relaxed?
never.I wonder, are Mess Dress Rules these days more relaxed?
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Odiham mess rules take the form of a letter, from the PMC [or is it the Staish?], that states that he expects his officers to be dressed appropriately at all times.
I understand there have been no problems...
Some messes these days operate a 'RED' and 'GREEN' system. When it's RED, it means that high-powered guests are about, and more formal dress should be worn. GREEN allows for a more casual mode. Usually a plaque on the entrance hall table announces the dress code.
You still get the odd pratt who has no sense at all - like the idiot who walked into the bar one summer Sunday lunchtime wearing a only pair of thong size bathing trunks and nothing else - despite the scruffs bar being a few feet away. Great impression to give your guests - would you do that at your local pub? Would the landlord stand for it?
I understand there have been no problems...
Some messes these days operate a 'RED' and 'GREEN' system. When it's RED, it means that high-powered guests are about, and more formal dress should be worn. GREEN allows for a more casual mode. Usually a plaque on the entrance hall table announces the dress code.
You still get the odd pratt who has no sense at all - like the idiot who walked into the bar one summer Sunday lunchtime wearing a only pair of thong size bathing trunks and nothing else - despite the scruffs bar being a few feet away. Great impression to give your guests - would you do that at your local pub? Would the landlord stand for it?
Something with which we were grateful for your excellent assistance during recruiting fayres, eh Stoppers?
So that no 'common' students made it past your initial filter to our interview stage...
And rightly so!
So that no 'common' students made it past your initial filter to our interview stage...
And rightly so!
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I remember trying to argue that surely it was better to see a junior officer in a smart blazer, etc on a Monday night than a grumpy, aged, bean-stealing senior officer in a greasy, threadbare tweed suit. It didn't work.
Gentleman Aviator
Likewise Zoom , I once tried to argue that as a particular jacket and trousers of mine, although of different materials, were bought together and only ever worn together - they therefore constituted a suit. Didn't work though. 
But then I was also asked to leave th4 dining room for daring to wear a cravat rather than a tie with my tattersal check shirt and tweed sports jacket - at Saturday beakfast!! An' ye tell that to the young folk o' today ......
But then I was also asked to leave th4 dining room for daring to wear a cravat rather than a tie with my tattersal check shirt and tweed sports jacket - at Saturday beakfast!! An' ye tell that to the young folk o' today ......
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My thoughts . . .. . .
Let's not forget guys that the Mess is the home of many people, and whilst standards etc are all well and good, to have some tw@t who visits the mess for a meal every now and then to use his associate member right to turn his nose up and complain about the youth of today, really is the last thing the guys and girls need.
Changing RAF, changing officers. Different Rules ?
(Awaiting inevitable incoming . . ..
)
Let's not forget guys that the Mess is the home of many people, and whilst standards etc are all well and good, to have some tw@t who visits the mess for a meal every now and then to use his associate member right to turn his nose up and complain about the youth of today, really is the last thing the guys and girls need.
Changing RAF, changing officers. Different Rules ?
(Awaiting inevitable incoming . . ..
)
During the late fifties when V Force crews used to wander round the Officers' Transit Mess at Luga dressed in flying suits bristling with pipes and hooks, an old Transport lag was moved to write in the suggestions book: Suggest the bar be pressurised to make the V Force feel at home.
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There was, many years ago at a large Norfolk base, a nav , one Gegegogan, who reckoned he was the epitome of sartorial eligance. He had two suits, one bright green, the other bright yellow and when he got bored with them he wore the yellow jacket with the green trousers ,or viceversa. The cheeky devil had the nerve to criticise someone for wearing a Hawian style shirt on Ascension during Corporate.
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I had the displeasure of witnessing a pompous hon member (of an unnamed Mess) upbraiding a JO who committed the heinous crime of sticking his head round the bar door to see who was there...whilst wearing a topcoat! I was reminded of the Little Britain vomiting sketch sans vomit!
What made me very angry was when said hon member answered his mobile in the bar and had a lengthy telephone conversation without excusing himself!
I was young and naiive; otherwise I would have invited him to ring the bell and buy a round.....
I was reminded of the Little Britain vomiting sketch sans vomit!What made me very angry was when said hon member answered his mobile in the bar and had a lengthy telephone conversation without excusing himself!
I was young and naiive; otherwise I would have invited him to ring the bell and buy a round.....
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Art Field
I remember the giggly one when he arrived at Odious Field in the mid eighties. He had been back to his tailor and had a purple one made by then.
Reminds me of a funny incident at Odious Xmas exchange drinks in Royals Mess a long time ago. PMC had decreed working dress or smart casual for royals. CMC decreed that the dress for all knockers would be lounge suits. Prior to going across to Royals Mess, knockers assemble for a sharpener in Knockers Mess. CMC sees very young crewman in very smart blazer and slacks and tells him, in a very derogatory fashion and in front of all the Mess that he will not be going to the O’s dressed like that and orders him to change. Young man is extremely apologetic and embarrassed and goes to leave the Mess when he is set upon by some very senior Masters who buy him a beer and tell him that he will go to the party without changing. CMC who is a very junior WO then tries to round everyone up to leave for the O’s Mess but is told in no uncertain terms by the very senior Masters as well as most of the WO’s that they would follow when they had finished their drinks. As soon as the CMC had left with only a small entourage to accompany him, a quick phone call was made to PMC. Dress code confirmed every NCO in the Mess except for the young crewman exchanged jackets (after all it was exchange drinks) and then marched off to join the party. CMC was almost apoplectic when he spied the throng arriving all dressed in jacket and trousers and not a suit amongst them. He left the party shortly afterwards and some of the JO’s were kind enough to open the window before he left. They forgot about the roses though. You had to be there to enjoy the carnage when everyone tried to find there own jackets and wallets. Happy Days :
I remember the giggly one when he arrived at Odious Field in the mid eighties. He had been back to his tailor and had a purple one made by then.
Reminds me of a funny incident at Odious Xmas exchange drinks in Royals Mess a long time ago. PMC had decreed working dress or smart casual for royals. CMC decreed that the dress for all knockers would be lounge suits. Prior to going across to Royals Mess, knockers assemble for a sharpener in Knockers Mess. CMC sees very young crewman in very smart blazer and slacks and tells him, in a very derogatory fashion and in front of all the Mess that he will not be going to the O’s dressed like that and orders him to change. Young man is extremely apologetic and embarrassed and goes to leave the Mess when he is set upon by some very senior Masters who buy him a beer and tell him that he will go to the party without changing. CMC who is a very junior WO then tries to round everyone up to leave for the O’s Mess but is told in no uncertain terms by the very senior Masters as well as most of the WO’s that they would follow when they had finished their drinks. As soon as the CMC had left with only a small entourage to accompany him, a quick phone call was made to PMC. Dress code confirmed every NCO in the Mess except for the young crewman exchanged jackets (after all it was exchange drinks) and then marched off to join the party. CMC was almost apoplectic when he spied the throng arriving all dressed in jacket and trousers and not a suit amongst them. He left the party shortly afterwards and some of the JO’s were kind enough to open the window before he left. They forgot about the roses though. You had to be there to enjoy the carnage when everyone tried to find there own jackets and wallets. Happy Days
:
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I have still got my copy of 'Officer Behaviour' A fine read when all around you is going to the dogs.
Says a lot about what is wrong in general with life in the noughties - no style, no discipline, and no interest in making an impression.
Simple things like never folding linen napkins!
Ah!
(Could someone design a smiley with pipe and slippers please)
Says a lot about what is wrong in general with life in the noughties - no style, no discipline, and no interest in making an impression.
Simple things like never folding linen napkins!
Ah!
(Could someone design a smiley with pipe and slippers please)
PPatRoN
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Pipe and slipper smiley? Now who'd want a thing like that?
No copy of Officer's Behaviour on eBay, whatever that is. Ah well, time to turn on the wireless and see what the Sunday Torygraph has to say.
Ahhhh.
adr
No copy of Officer's Behaviour on eBay, whatever that is. Ah well, time to turn on the wireless and see what the Sunday Torygraph has to say.
Ahhhh.
adr
Last edited by adr; 20th Mar 2005 at 22:31.
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My Mess is strict by RAF standards at the moment... minimum of slacks or trousers, smart shoes, and an open-neck collar-attached shirt or polo shirt during the week for men, and the equivalent for ladies. Jumpers may be worn with shirts. And people WILL be bollocked for ignoring the rules. At weekends it relaxes to smart jeans, but trainers are still a no-no, as are t-shirts. Oh, and in the summer, tailored shorts may be worn throughout the week. With shoes and socks.
I don't think so!
I do get annoyed by inconsiderate people who decide that the rules don't apply to them. Yes, I live here, but I don't have to use the bar or dining room; therefore, if there is a dress code to be followed, I'll follow it. As for people answering mobile phones in the bar...
I don't think so!
I do get annoyed by inconsiderate people who decide that the rules don't apply to them. Yes, I live here, but I don't have to use the bar or dining room; therefore, if there is a dress code to be followed, I'll follow it. As for people answering mobile phones in the bar...
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Have to say always thought mess rules to be a bit of a waste of time, as the mess rules at Odiham say... you know how to behave.
Did get a shock though when I went to Leconfield last summer and discovered the army still required suits on certain days, and jacket and tie was considered to be dress down on others. Had to eat in my bedroom for the entire time....
Did get a shock though when I went to Leconfield last summer and discovered the army still required suits on certain days, and jacket and tie was considered to be dress down on others. Had to eat in my bedroom for the entire time....
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But what is wrong with that?
The forces were (and I hope still are) the last bastion of common decency, pride in one's appearance, and standards. If the Messes of today have acquiesced to the slip shod datum of what society has to offer in this day and age, then goodness help us.
In my brief time in, during the late eighties, it was said that RAF 'standards' were about 20 years behind civvy street. I was just twenty, and didn't see it as a bad place for it.
If, at a party, we are hearing people looking over at the bloke in the hoodie, saying " Oh, he's that recently commissioned officer. Going to be a fighter pilot, you know!" then we might as well pack up the Ikea flat packed furniture now.
The forces were (and I hope still are) the last bastion of common decency, pride in one's appearance, and standards. If the Messes of today have acquiesced to the slip shod datum of what society has to offer in this day and age, then goodness help us.
In my brief time in, during the late eighties, it was said that RAF 'standards' were about 20 years behind civvy street. I was just twenty, and didn't see it as a bad place for it.
If, at a party, we are hearing people looking over at the bloke in the hoodie, saying " Oh, he's that recently commissioned officer. Going to be a fighter pilot, you know!" then we might as well pack up the Ikea flat packed furniture now.