Peterborough Down the Memory Hole?
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100% agreed Al R. One gets the feeling of "at last!"
Having been saddened by some of the utterances (and silences) of my still serving contemporaries and having felt totally for the flying ladies after the crass "Samsonite" faux pas, I think that here we have a well deserved and well handled bit of positive publicity for the Service.
It's good for the girls, good for the SH world, good for the Rocks and good for the RAF at large.
It's also good for the morale of boring retired old duffers (like Beags).
Having been saddened by some of the utterances (and silences) of my still serving contemporaries and having felt totally for the flying ladies after the crass "Samsonite" faux pas, I think that here we have a well deserved and well handled bit of positive publicity for the Service.
It's good for the girls, good for the SH world, good for the Rocks and good for the RAF at large.
It's also good for the morale of boring retired old duffers (like Beags).
Oi, Redders, you old spy, I resemble that remark!
Seriously though, those two must be a PR person's dream. If not, then they darn well should be! A tough Rock in immaculate desert combat kit and a young lady combat pilot in a smart flying suit - both of whom have been highly decorated for their bravery under fire.
You can't get better than that!
Seriously though, those two must be a PR person's dream. If not, then they darn well should be! A tough Rock in immaculate desert combat kit and a young lady combat pilot in a smart flying suit - both of whom have been highly decorated for their bravery under fire.
You can't get better than that!
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Beags,
Once again the sagacity of experience shines through in one of your posts. Absolutely, totally impressive. Not even a Kwik-fit fitter could better what we have seen this week.
Once again the sagacity of experience shines through in one of your posts. Absolutely, totally impressive. Not even a Kwik-fit fitter could better what we have seen this week.
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You are such a touchy lot, I seem to have a whole keep net full, personal insults as well.
I made no reference to the people inside the uniforms and I have read of their deeds which has nothing to do with the uniforms they are wearing in public let alone in Perterborough. The next erk who wanders down the main road in that fair city dressed in greasy RAF overalls, fag in gob, pencil stub behind the left ear (thats if he is left handed of course) and no beret will be OK when the Snow Drops pass by cos yoos lot say so.
BH
I made no reference to the people inside the uniforms and I have read of their deeds which has nothing to do with the uniforms they are wearing in public let alone in Perterborough. The next erk who wanders down the main road in that fair city dressed in greasy RAF overalls, fag in gob, pencil stub behind the left ear (thats if he is left handed of course) and no beret will be OK when the Snow Drops pass by cos yoos lot say so.
BH
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Who the hell took that picture?
I cannot imagine a better image to present to ANYONE, let alone the general public OR those thinking of joining up, to show what being a member of our armed forces is about. It beats hands down anything seen before.
MOD, get yer fingers out! You have been presented with something that will not pass this way again.
I cannot imagine a better image to present to ANYONE, let alone the general public OR those thinking of joining up, to show what being a member of our armed forces is about. It beats hands down anything seen before.
MOD, get yer fingers out! You have been presented with something that will not pass this way again.
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'The next erk who wanders down the main road in that fair city dressed in greasy RAF overalls, fag in gob, pencil stub behind the left ear (thats if he is left handed of course) and no beret will be OK when the Snow Drops pass by cos yoos lot say so.'
It's too late to backpedal and try to turn your crass, unwelcome comments into a pseudo fishing trip. YOU HAVE LOST FACE.When have you ever seen the above description walking down any High Street? What do you have against the RAF or military for that matter? I wouldn't have expected the comments from an ex mil .The forces have enough of a hard time at the moment without the above type of comments from someone who should know better
It's too late to backpedal and try to turn your crass, unwelcome comments into a pseudo fishing trip. YOU HAVE LOST FACE.When have you ever seen the above description walking down any High Street? What do you have against the RAF or military for that matter? I wouldn't have expected the comments from an ex mil .The forces have enough of a hard time at the moment without the above type of comments from someone who should know better
The Wittering/Peterborough situation may have been a bit of an over-reaction, and there may be more to it than meets the eye. But it does seem to have focussed the attention of the media on some of the problems that PPRuNers know only too well, problems that include the often unfair and uncaring attitude of some of the public to the armed forces.
Here’s a favourable example, from The Independent on Sunday - an organ not invariably known for its pro-forces views. The article, by Sarah Sands, is called The brave wear a uniform, the coward wears a suit, and it’s worth reading in full - but in the meantime, this is the last paragraph.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...it-793361.html
airsound
Here’s a favourable example, from The Independent on Sunday - an organ not invariably known for its pro-forces views. The article, by Sarah Sands, is called The brave wear a uniform, the coward wears a suit, and it’s worth reading in full - but in the meantime, this is the last paragraph.
If we abuse those who would lay down their lives for us, we are not a society at all. I prefer to think that we have been thoughtless rather than cruel. We must visibly honour our armed forces and – anathema to Gordon Brown and David Cameron – we must pay for them and their families. Their blood, our treasure, according to the Covenant.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...it-793361.html
airsound
airsound, an excellent article by Sarah Sands, so much so that I have saved it. Thanks for the heads up, I would commend it to all! It's all about honour she says, not within the Services for she credits them with that in abundance but within the rest of us. Here she finds a deficiency, and hopes that its lack is thoughtlessness. I disagree, you don't just forget to act and think honourably, you are simply dishonourable. That is the charge levelled at us. Time to change our ways and show respect to those who have earned it, rather than those who demand it while asking "Do you know who I am?"
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http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/RAF-M...orm.3864849.jp
Ok, Marham Village is not Peterborough but this is what I'd expect from RAF
Hope lots more stations will follow!!
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Those who abuse servicemen would be well advise to heed the events some years ago, where apprentices from Locking went throught a local gang in Weston-Super-Mare. Several apprentices were duffed up by the local feral yoofs; the entire apprentice wing demolished the feral cafe and put the miscreants in casualty [including the cafe proprietor, sympatheric to the thugs].
Also, a number of guys on detachment went to the aid of a young girl being given a hard time be feral thrugs in a pub in Forres - she, and the local plods were ever so grateful to have said ferals sorted out....
Also, a number of guys on detachment went to the aid of a young girl being given a hard time be feral thrugs in a pub in Forres - she, and the local plods were ever so grateful to have said ferals sorted out....
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BobHead is way off the mark with his comments but at least its given us a chance to wade in with positivie views of the individuals, wearing smart uniforms of various types in public and the Service in general. A welcome change to much of the drivelling that happens on PPrune. So well done Bob you've probably had the exactly opposite effect to the one you intended but the outcome is very positive. Now I must dig out my old No14 Dress just to pop down to Waitrose - maybe I'll get a discount on the Claret
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Morgan - you'll find that anyone will wear their uniform in small towns near their bases. Sheesh - out at Marham it shows you've the potential to increase the local gene pool - and since we closd Colt, there is less chance of that happening out there!
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http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion...rm-793667.html
The Indy had an interesting perspective on this. And it finishes off by quickly comparing the blanket stacker management mentality with the pilot command mentality.
The Indy had an interesting perspective on this. And it finishes off by quickly comparing the blanket stacker management mentality with the pilot command mentality.
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AI R - you have interpreted a fairly poor article pretty badly - but then again, it would not have fitted your tedious needs otherwise. I'm not minded to point out the journalistic licenses within the article, but anyone who knows the area, the base in question and the people will know exactly what I mean. Your stacker / pilot comparison is your own and I'd take you to task on it - if you could reason or listen to reason. Please stick to writing to the Mail.
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So well done Bob you've probably had the exactly opposite effect to the one you intended but the outcome is very positive.
Poor picture selection however (for a wind up).
Last edited by Romeo Oscar Golf; 16th Mar 2008 at 18:17. Reason: For clarity to the easily fooled
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What makes it 'poor', Hinecap 
? For the Indy to come out in support of anything related to wearing a uniform must have taken a leap of faith greater than Atherton could ever have in the abilities of those under her command, and the local situation.
The scribbly is an ex squaddie, so he has a bit of an insight. What other parts of his piece did you dissagree with? Lets see.
Just which part do you dissagree with?
On Friday, I journeyed up from London to P'boro with an ex neighbour, who has worked for Huntingdon Life Sciences since 1997, when I first met him. He reminded me about the time that his son and daughter were shouted at by hemp underpant wearing, tofu munching nutters, but not once did any of that force him to move away or restrict his way of living. I also chatted to a lady from Zimbabwe taxi driver in P'boro who told me that military fares usually got discount as long as the cab didn't get puked up in.
Finally, its not about MY needs Hinecap. You can be as offensive as you like about that, but this is not about one person's needs. Atherton's responsibility goes beyond handing a hankie to any single serviceman ar woman and I'm relieved that other stations are lining up quite publically, to announce contra policies. The sooner Group Captain Atherton gets promoted out of harm's way, the sooner the RAF can get the benefit of her unique style of macromanagement and the sooner the troops on the shop floor can back back to normality.
Finally, with regards to my blanket stacker reference.. where's your sense of humour? Feel free to continue referencing me as thick, time expired and living in the past.
? For the Indy to come out in support of anything related to wearing a uniform must have taken a leap of faith greater than Atherton could ever have in the abilities of those under her command, and the local situation.The scribbly is an ex squaddie, so he has a bit of an insight. What other parts of his piece did you dissagree with? Lets see.
- "Gordon Brown's hasty statement does not mean the Government show much meaningful respect for the armed services."
- "Coroners' inquests have repeatedly shown that troops have died because of avoidable deficiencies in their equipment."
- "Returning causalities have sometimes lacked the medical treatment they deserve. Veterans who suffer trauma have been badly served."
- "And when the dead arrive home in coffins, do ministers show their gratitude by turning up at the airfield. Did Mr Blair ever do that? Does Mr Brown? Does anybody?"
Just which part do you dissagree with?
On Friday, I journeyed up from London to P'boro with an ex neighbour, who has worked for Huntingdon Life Sciences since 1997, when I first met him. He reminded me about the time that his son and daughter were shouted at by hemp underpant wearing, tofu munching nutters, but not once did any of that force him to move away or restrict his way of living. I also chatted to a lady from Zimbabwe taxi driver in P'boro who told me that military fares usually got discount as long as the cab didn't get puked up in.
Finally, its not about MY needs Hinecap. You can be as offensive as you like about that, but this is not about one person's needs. Atherton's responsibility goes beyond handing a hankie to any single serviceman ar woman and I'm relieved that other stations are lining up quite publically, to announce contra policies. The sooner Group Captain Atherton gets promoted out of harm's way, the sooner the RAF can get the benefit of her unique style of macromanagement and the sooner the troops on the shop floor can back back to normality.
Finally, with regards to my blanket stacker reference.. where's your sense of humour? Feel free to continue referencing me as thick, time expired and living in the past.
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Al R, like Mr C I'm afraid that I must take you up on your rather lame stacker-pilot comparison. You seem to neglect that the RAF is run by pilots (and always has been), and that the creeping ingress of management twaddle into the Service over the past 20 years has been instigated, supported and driven by... hmm, let's see now! For what it's worth, my abiding memory of many years's service on flying stations was the seemingly endless deluge of corporate b******s from the Stn Cdr, OC Fg Sqns and SHQ - at times it seemed that the only true examples of leadership and command could be found in Eng & Supply Wg. Perhaps you might like to re-consider your rather poor attempt at banter!