Using Rank on Retirement
Of course, it's not just the Mil who plays that game. I knew a retired Bank Manager who, for any issue in the village, would often say "Well, when I was a Bank Manager....." ....... which was really odd if it were suggesting things for the cake stall at the local Church fete or similar! The fact they were pretty clueless (it was a while ago when they worked for the Bank) made it all the more amusing.
Fortunately, never made it anywhere myself so I just observe by peering out from under my rock! H 'n' H knows his place!!!!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dark Side of West Wales
Age: 84
Posts: 159
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Folks. One of the funniest shows on British TV is Dad’s Army.
The fact that Capt Mainwairing was also the bank manager and he loved both titles sums up these people you are all writing about.
These type of characters are what makes Great Britain great!
The fact that Capt Mainwairing was also the bank manager and he loved both titles sums up these people you are all writing about.
These type of characters are what makes Great Britain great!
As XL189 and I both know, having answered "Fairy" to the question "What are you in the Mob then?" down the Local or at the Disco, no amount of "bigging up" the job and explaining just how "vital our jobs really were" could restore the slightest vestige of credibility! I finally worked out it was not the ideal "chat-up line" to impress the fairer sex with!!!! 
Suspect Rigger sounded a bit more appealing to the ladies!!!!!!!!
Of course, there was a Pipe when along side in Sydney in 1986 "Would the Sea Harrier pilot called Snodgrass report to the Aft brow!" where a young Aussie damsel had shown up. A rather embarrassed AEM Snodgrass was seen heading aft to try and explain!!!! Oh how we laughed! Happy daze!
Suspect Rigger sounded a bit more appealing to the ladies!!!!!!!!
Of course, there was a Pipe when along side in Sydney in 1986 "Would the Sea Harrier pilot called Snodgrass report to the Aft brow!" where a young Aussie damsel had shown up. A rather embarrassed AEM Snodgrass was seen heading aft to try and explain!!!! Oh how we laughed! Happy daze!
BEags, I don't think many here would begrudge that one bit - it's actually quite nice to have deserving characters down the local or such like. It's just when they start lording it around as if they were still in the Services .... the "I'm a VSO so what I say will happen!" type. I've seen a most spectacular example of that taking place in business. It didn't end well - for the ex-VSO!!!!
Of course, it's not just the Mil who plays that game. I knew a retired Bank Manager who, for any issue in the village, would often say "Well, when I was a Bank Manager....." ....... which was really odd if it were suggesting things for the cake stall at the local Church fete or similar! The fact they were pretty clueless (it was a while ago when they worked for the Bank) made it all the more amusing.
Fortunately, never made it anywhere myself so I just observe by peering out from under my rock! H 'n' H knows his place!!!!!
Of course, it's not just the Mil who plays that game. I knew a retired Bank Manager who, for any issue in the village, would often say "Well, when I was a Bank Manager....." ....... which was really odd if it were suggesting things for the cake stall at the local Church fete or similar! The fact they were pretty clueless (it was a while ago when they worked for the Bank) made it all the more amusing.
Fortunately, never made it anywhere myself so I just observe by peering out from under my rock! H 'n' H knows his place!!!!!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 67
Posts: 5,308
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes
on
12 Posts
Even worse the old letters after the name. Was once 'invited' for a discussion without tea & biccys with my civilian boss. Nice new nameplate on the door with letters after his name. Thought to myself must be a Professional qualification, having never seen them before anywhere. At the end of the 'discussion' I inquired as to the meaning of the letters. Without batting an eyelid he informed me it was 'Member of the ****** arts society'. Nothing to do with the job we were doing then
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I once put the letters COS on my office door plate. When asked, it was because I had "Lettuce after my name".
(plus a few more characters for posting)
Slight thread drift ... but I once worked with an american flight engineer who carried a self supporting notice.. very official looking .. that he would place beside his car wherever he parked it ... no matter what the local restrictions were .. and never got booked... sign simply said .. in large bright red letters "TIMS"......
When asked what it mean't he simply answered ... "this is my slot" ...........
When asked what it mean't he simply answered ... "this is my slot" ...........
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 29,898
Received 1,333 Likes
on
604 Posts
OK, confession time. As 16 year old Locking Apprentices in our first term, we could only go out fully booted and spurred in No.1s. When asked, we frequently tried to convince the girl that was asking that the 4 bladed apprentice wheel meant that we were helicopter pilots. It never occurred to us that they had heard it all before from previous entries.
Hello chaps, I'm new here but you can call me....
The tales of folk introducing themselves by rank/awards led me to this throwback to imperial times. I can almost see the scene repeated in village pubs when newly retired VSO's introduce themselves as ..... .
