Congratulations to HRH The Duke of Cambridge
Chugalug2, ref your PS. I happened to look this up and you may be pleased to hear that a Flt Lt may continue to use their rank after retirement. 
Furthermore, the rank may continue to be used with or without the addition of "retired or ret'd". Cheers
OAP
Furthermore, the rank may continue to be used with or without the addition of "retired or ret'd". CheersOAP
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
but it makes you look like a prat in the eyes of the Great British Public
They associate military men hanging on to a ranke after they've retired with the Major in Fawlty Towers
They associate military men hanging on to a ranke after they've retired with the Major in Fawlty Towers
Genstabler,
While I might agree with you on a LOT of things we see posted from HH, as far as ex military folk using rank when retired, I think he is spot on! Over the years and at all levels I have found it is seen as incredibly naff, laughable and a little odd.
While I might agree with you on a LOT of things we see posted from HH, as far as ex military folk using rank when retired, I think he is spot on! Over the years and at all levels I have found it is seen as incredibly naff, laughable and a little odd.
For those who haven't seen it before I will repeat my oft related story about the retired admiral who came to live in a Cornish village. On his first visit to the pub, the landlord asked him how he would like to be addressed. "Call me admiral, or Sir John, I dont mind which" was the reply. On his next visit he was somewhat taken aback when a local in the corner of the bar called out, "Hello sailor!"
TTN
Flight Lieutenant (Ret'd)
TTN
Flight Lieutenant (Ret'd)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Yorkshire
Age: 82
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even after he retired my father hated it when phone callers said "can I call you Edward" and used to say "no. I am Doctor Mouse". He'd worked hard enough to gain the qualification and felt he deserved some respect. Later, when he was ill in hospital, the nurses tried to call him Edward and he told them no, he was Doctor Mouse.
I fully support his line. There is too much intrusive informality these days, especially noticeable on the TV with interviewers. Bloody rude some of them.
I fully support his line. There is too much intrusive informality these days, especially noticeable on the TV with interviewers. Bloody rude some of them.
Over the years and at all levels I have found it is seen as incredibly naff, laughable and a little odd.
Clockwork Mouse,
Oh, I agree 100%. My Mum in her later years had a few unplanned visits to various hospitals where they all just assumed they could call he Phyllis, which made her visibly wince. I recommended that it might be polite to call her Mrs Courtnage. All I got was blank looks so I pointed out that it might be less formal for them that calling her Alderman or Your Worship. They went with Mrs Courtnage.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indeed, why is this practice allowed to continue in the NHS?.
I ******* bet they get coloured names right.
Says the man who found his mother lying in a gournry (for KenV) in Gartnavel Hospital some 23 years ago...then found her again in a four bed unit quite coherent but without the slightest idea why they were calling her young...
I ******* bet they get coloured names right.
Says the man who found his mother lying in a gournry (for KenV) in Gartnavel Hospital some 23 years ago...then found her again in a four bed unit quite coherent but without the slightest idea why they were calling her young...
Last edited by glad rag; 6th Feb 2016 at 17:09.
Recent conversation chez TTN.
Mrs TTN "Someone on the phone asking to speak to Alan ".
Me "Hello, Alan TTN here".
Caller "Hello Alan, how are you today?"
Me "Sorry, who are you?"
Caller "It's Nigel calling from Dodgy Investment Opportunities, inc"
Me "And how old are you Nigel?"
Nigel "Um, er, I'm 25".
Me "Then I suggest that next time you call up someone who don't know, who happens to be 69 by the way, you address him as Mr or Mrs and their surname. Goodbye"
Click.
Incidentally why have hospital trollies started to be called gurneys? Seems to be a recent thing.
Mrs TTN "Someone on the phone asking to speak to Alan ".
Me "Hello, Alan TTN here".
Caller "Hello Alan, how are you today?"
Me "Sorry, who are you?"
Caller "It's Nigel calling from Dodgy Investment Opportunities, inc"
Me "And how old are you Nigel?"
Nigel "Um, er, I'm 25".
Me "Then I suggest that next time you call up someone who don't know, who happens to be 69 by the way, you address him as Mr or Mrs and their surname. Goodbye"
Click.
Incidentally why have hospital trollies started to be called gurneys? Seems to be a recent thing.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Age: 55
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Is it a retirement thing to insist on ranks and titles?
I was at a meeting yesterday with an RN Commander and an RAF Wing Commander, both in uniform. Both introduced themselves by their shortened forenames, let's say Nick and Bill, though that's not their names. Nice chaps, engaging conversation. It was an official meeting on official business, they were representing their departments.
Here's me, Sgt (ret'd), on first name terms with the equivalent rank of my old CO. But I'm long out of it and they are still in. I doubt either will be using their ranks in retirement if they don't use them while serving and meeting outsiders.
I was at a meeting yesterday with an RN Commander and an RAF Wing Commander, both in uniform. Both introduced themselves by their shortened forenames, let's say Nick and Bill, though that's not their names. Nice chaps, engaging conversation. It was an official meeting on official business, they were representing their departments.
Here's me, Sgt (ret'd), on first name terms with the equivalent rank of my old CO. But I'm long out of it and they are still in. I doubt either will be using their ranks in retirement if they don't use them while serving and meeting outsiders.
TTN Incidentally why have hospital trollies started to be called gurneys? Seems to be a recent thing.
OJAR to write: I have never seen a clearer case of exceptional potential to 4*
I mean, how many Summer Balls has he organised???
Down the road from my Mum's house, there was a retired Ghurka General. I met him a couple of times and he was a nice, unassuming, very informal chap.
His very much younger, second-wife was very concerned that us 'locals' were not paying him due deference and suggested to all and sundry, that he should be addressed as General.
She was known ever afterwards as Mrs. General!
The Duke of Cambridge seems to me, from a distance, to be a thoroughly nice chap and he is managing to do a worthwhile job, while he waits in line. Concerning his promotion, he's going to be going up the rank structure to the very top, so at least they are getting started!
I42
Acting Pilot Officer (Ret'd)
His very much younger, second-wife was very concerned that us 'locals' were not paying him due deference and suggested to all and sundry, that he should be addressed as General.
She was known ever afterwards as Mrs. General!
The Duke of Cambridge seems to me, from a distance, to be a thoroughly nice chap and he is managing to do a worthwhile job, while he waits in line. Concerning his promotion, he's going to be going up the rank structure to the very top, so at least they are getting started!
I42
Acting Pilot Officer (Ret'd)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Congratulations to HRH
Returning briefly to the issue of royalty and military rank: the British system assumes, under the constitution, that the Royal Family is the theatrical representation of the commander in chief - hence we insist on dressing our Windsors in grandiose military uniforms with inflated rank, all conceivable twiddly bits, world cup medals, wider gold braid, expensively-pre-faded denim etc. If we accept that the present system represents popular consensus (a big assumption) then the key question is whether the inflated Royal rank leads to exaggerated self-regard of the royal person wearing the uniform. To my knowledge Prince Charles, alone with his mirror, actually believes he merits the 5* uniform with which it is his pleasure to wear. So by all means, let us indulge the Windsors and their sycophants when they appear in their operatic outfits: but we should be constantly on alert gently to inform those easily taken in that our royal family's role is symbolic and no more. And if you can drill that lesson into the Duke of Cambridge, his press handlers and his heirs and successors then so much the better.
It's not just the Windsors, goofer. The so-called "bicycling monarchies" of Europe (there's a myth if ever there was one) are also quite keen on dressing up as generals, admirals, etc. Here's King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, complete with orders, medals and lots of braid (top centre).
https://www.pinterest.com/elegancehq/uniforms/
Thanks, Courtney Mil - I suppose if I had ever watched ER I'd have known!
https://www.pinterest.com/elegancehq/uniforms/
Thanks, Courtney Mil - I suppose if I had ever watched ER I'd have known!
OAP:-
That's wonderful news, I shall be sending out corrections to all my online accounts immediately! Or is this something to be wary of perhaps? If I can go on calling myself Flt Lt, without even a (retd) qualification, cannot the RAF do the very same? Might I be receiving a telegram requiring me to report to some mobilisation centre, kitted out, given a bit of "Sgt. Mjr. Marching Up and Down the Parade Square" practice and then issued a warrant to somewhere sunny and sandy?
On second thoughts just call me chug, you haven't seen me and you know nothing about me, right?
Chugalug2, ref your PS. I happened to look this up and you may be pleased to hear that a Flt Lt may continue to use their rank after retirement.
On second thoughts just call me chug, you haven't seen me and you know nothing about me, right?