RIAT Colours Parade - echos of the Great Escape
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Judging by the way the summer is going it will p*ss down; with lots of soggy personnel and no flypast?
On an unrelated note: my lunchtime run was brightened considerably at the sight of the Vulcan stooging around Benson - despite no support from the MOD.
On an unrelated note: my lunchtime run was brightened considerably at the sight of the Vulcan stooging around Benson - despite no support from the MOD.
BBC coverage
If you can't get/are not invited to the parade and flypast, BBC1 are covering it (not all live) from about 1400 to 1500. If you want a specialist aviation commentary on the flypast, which starts at 1430, press the red button.
airsound
airsound
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Good old BBC...again!!
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FAIRFORD EGVA 111100Z 111221 26012KT 9999 BKN025 TEMPO 1221 5000 SHRA BKN022 PROB30 TEMPO 1216 3000 +TSRA BKN018CB
Good luck guys and gals at or over the ceremony today - I'm sure all the hard work and grief that you and your partners have had to put up with recently will at least be appreciated by HMQ.
And remember - never scrub on a forecast!
Good luck guys and gals at or over the ceremony today - I'm sure all the hard work and grief that you and your partners have had to put up with recently will at least be appreciated by HMQ.
And remember - never scrub on a forecast!
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I just hope the rain held off
Just caught the tail end of the report on BBC News 1300 hrs and it looked as though the skies opened up as they they were marching past/off. Poor devils.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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If it ain't raining, it ain't training. Apres moi la deluge indeed, stag on lads - happy days 
.
QCS tip top as usual. Why, as the BBC bloke put it, couldn't some ac take part in a flypast if it was raining? By the way, I seem to remember the aeroplanes doing a quick tour of some stations en route home last time. Will that happen again for this one, or are all dispersing straight home?
. QCS tip top as usual. Why, as the BBC bloke put it, couldn't some ac take part in a flypast if it was raining? By the way, I seem to remember the aeroplanes doing a quick tour of some stations en route home last time. Will that happen again for this one, or are all dispersing straight home?
Join Date: Oct 2002
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And another 'thank you' to Sean Maffett for the specialist commentary, courtesy of the digital red button. After, during the first half, seeing Merlins labelled as Pumas, the name strips transposed of the Flt Lt and Cpl who received the new Colour, plus one or two other hiccups, I was more than ready for a commentary by a former RAF colleague during the last section.
This new digital TV thing is actually a blood-pressure reducer.
This new digital TV thing is actually a blood-pressure reducer.
Join Date: Feb 2004
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BBC Coverage
Having taken part in the parade which was an honor, I travelled back V Late last night only to get in and see the coverage that the BBC supplied. I was appalled that one the biggest parades in the RAF's history only attracted 5 minutes of airtime. It does not put into context all the hard work and trench foot that the girls and boys endured down at Innsworth/Fairford. Are there anymore extend clips anywhere else on the internet?
Nearly drying out!!!!
Nearly drying out!!!!
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He offered his offer,
She honoured her honour
and all night long,
it was offer and honour.
Well, if you had been locked up for 10 days and then managed to get home...... What would you do?
She honoured her honour
and all night long,
it was offer and honour.
Well, if you had been locked up for 10 days and then managed to get home...... What would you do?
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As a guest at the parade yesterday, I would like to offer my congratulations to all who took part, not only those on the square - Support Sqns, Escort Sqns, Colour Parties and bands - but also those in the background and in the air later. A great spectacle indeed. Just a pity the BBC didn't do it, and the flypast, the credit it deserved.
Just about dryed out now!!
MAP
Just about dryed out now!!
MAP
Join Date: May 2004
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I was on the parade and I must say that I have never read such a collection of ill-informed, whinging crap in all my life. Agreed, we should not have been there in the first place, but at the end of the day this is one of the things that we are paid for.
I am a SNCO with over 20 years service, and I am delighted that I will never be doing this again. However, it was certainly not the ball-ache which I thought it would be. Thanks to all from the EAW, caterers, DIs etc. From the point of view of the Standard Party, we were treated as adults at all times, and having done all the practice, we were delighted that the parade went ahead.
What really amuses/irritates me, is the number of SNCOs and Officers who were guests at the parade who did not have a chest full of medals. For example, saw a Flight Sergeant with only one medal - the chocolate Golden Jubilee Medal! Where have all these people been hiding? Perhaps this is the reason why so many people in the RAF are p*%%£d off. There is a two tier system in operation; those who do, and those who wimp off dets or live at Command
I am a SNCO with over 20 years service, and I am delighted that I will never be doing this again. However, it was certainly not the ball-ache which I thought it would be. Thanks to all from the EAW, caterers, DIs etc. From the point of view of the Standard Party, we were treated as adults at all times, and having done all the practice, we were delighted that the parade went ahead.
What really amuses/irritates me, is the number of SNCOs and Officers who were guests at the parade who did not have a chest full of medals. For example, saw a Flight Sergeant with only one medal - the chocolate Golden Jubilee Medal! Where have all these people been hiding? Perhaps this is the reason why so many people in the RAF are p*%%£d off. There is a two tier system in operation; those who do, and those who wimp off dets or live at Command
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As a player at yesterdays soaking, what came across on the last long long bus journey back to the DOB, was that nobody took the time to come into the changing area and thank the 750 troops for their efforts over the last 9 days. Would have been a nice gesture..thats all !
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Fully agree with StupidBoy as well, hats off to Mobile Catering Unit and the attitude of the DI's. By the way, highly recommend Cheltenham for an afternoon on the lash! Will be returning !
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To Stupidboy, Spit the dog and everybody else involved.. well done!! A standard presentation parade is an absolute bitch in OR issued shoes. Having had to do several parades (including two back to back at the closure of flying at Colt) in the last few years gives you an understanding on the effort required (that will be largely forgotten by some on this forum, if ever realized at all!)
People not going on DWR's... No shock's as my last one was brought foward by a year and to a different location!
People not going on DWR's... No shock's as my last one was brought foward by a year and to a different location!
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I was on the parade too - carrying a Sqn standard with an incredible amount of pride. It really was an honour to be involved. The misinformed BS on this thread is staggering - especially as most of it comes from those who weren't there!
At ALL times I was treated as an adult and with respect. The EAW worked their socks off to provide for us with virtually no resources. To be able to sit in the Sgts mess with a cuppa and watch a big screen telly was something I hadn't expected - just one example of the welfare package provided for us. The DIs worked hard to make sure that all of us were kept informed - oftentimes they were just as in the dark as us. How they kept their patience with us all asking what was coming up next I don't know. The team spirit was staggering - morale never became an issue despite the torrents of rain for the entire time. My memories of the fortnight at Innsworth will be of near constant laughter - nothing like the rubbish spouted above.
Blunty
At ALL times I was treated as an adult and with respect. The EAW worked their socks off to provide for us with virtually no resources. To be able to sit in the Sgts mess with a cuppa and watch a big screen telly was something I hadn't expected - just one example of the welfare package provided for us. The DIs worked hard to make sure that all of us were kept informed - oftentimes they were just as in the dark as us. How they kept their patience with us all asking what was coming up next I don't know. The team spirit was staggering - morale never became an issue despite the torrents of rain for the entire time. My memories of the fortnight at Innsworth will be of near constant laughter - nothing like the rubbish spouted above.
Blunty