Using Rank on Retirement
Here's one bloke who won't be using his rank in his retirement.
Major general jailed for Dorset school fees fraud
Major general jailed for Dorset school fees fraud
Following his sentencing, an MoD spokesperson said: "It has been proven in this case that retired Major General Nicholas Welch OBE
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 78
Posts: 7,542
Received 40 Likes
on
20 Posts
also sentenced Welch to retrospective dismissal from the Army, meaning he can no longer benefit from his rank of retired major general.
what happens to his pension? Does that remain secure? And indeed his LS&GC?
I have a small amount of sympathy for someone who has fallen so spectacularly from grace and who will probably have quite a hard time in prison, but he has only himself to blame. Others who have been caught playing fast and loose with CEA and its predecessor have been treated differently in the past.
However, I have a great deal of sympathy for his children, who will probably be feeling guilty even though their only crime was to be of school age, and whose education is probably about to be disrupted. I would, however, be quite interested to know whose decision it was for his wife to spend so much time 'in the country' and whether that person still thinks it was a good idea.
What a sad and indeed silly way to go. There are absolutely no winners ........ the army is a reputational loser, and the principle of CEA is bound to come under scrutiny. The whole family suffers and their comfortable future is in doubt, as the usual jobs for retired VSOs will disappear..
A sad day, and I dare say a fair number of servicemen and women are gently revising their living arrangements .......... there was some obvious jiggery-pokery to be seen during school holidays, with wives arriving back at JHQ at about the same time as the offspring clambered off the lollipop specials..
A sad day, and I dare say a fair number of servicemen and women are gently revising their living arrangements .......... there was some obvious jiggery-pokery to be seen during school holidays, with wives arriving back at JHQ at about the same time as the offspring clambered off the lollipop specials..
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 78
Posts: 7,542
Received 40 Likes
on
20 Posts
Thanks, Fortissomo.
The OH used to be the 'subject expert' on BSA [as was] many years ago. It was a complex subject, and of course the Regs may have changed since she hung up her quill.
I could imagine, for the defence, that a VSO got his PSO to originate the paperworks, signed it off and forgot about it ... without VSO or Mrs VSO being fully cognisant of the complex Regs. A lot of detail would be needed by we 'outsiders' to determine what went on, but clearly the CM were convinced of culpable conduct.
I share the sadness for all those impacted.
The OH used to be the 'subject expert' on BSA [as was] many years ago. It was a complex subject, and of course the Regs may have changed since she hung up her quill.
I could imagine, for the defence, that a VSO got his PSO to originate the paperworks, signed it off and forgot about it ... without VSO or Mrs VSO being fully cognisant of the complex Regs. A lot of detail would be needed by we 'outsiders' to determine what went on, but clearly the CM were convinced of culpable conduct.
I share the sadness for all those impacted.
Avoid imitations
As an ex officer who never claimed one penny from the U.K. taxpayer in boarding school fees (although with two qualifying children at one time I could certainly have done so) it makes my blood pressure rise more than a little to learn of fraud at this level.
I suspect that there will be a long hard look at every single recipient of CEA with regards to their ongoing eligibility. With a former 2* receiving custodial sentence plus a repayment order it sets the bench mark for any future cases of guilt.
I also don’t hold water with the “he just signed it without fully understanding it”. As a 2* he will approved many other subordinates CEA paperwork as he climbed the greasy pole - I suspect their paperwork will be the first under the microscope.
Makes you wonder what else he “signed off” without fully understanding the ramifications.
I also don’t hold water with the “he just signed it without fully understanding it”. As a 2* he will approved many other subordinates CEA paperwork as he climbed the greasy pole - I suspect their paperwork will be the first under the microscope.
Makes you wonder what else he “signed off” without fully understanding the ramifications.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 78
Posts: 7,542
Received 40 Likes
on
20 Posts
Avoid imitations
Our eldest had been in seven different schools by the time it came for him to sit his GCSE exams because he didn’t want to go to boarding school and we wanted to bring him up ourselves, rather than put him in the care of others. He’s done very well for himself, as in fact all his three siblings have done.
Our eldest had been in seven different schools by the time it came for him to sit his GCSE exams because he didn’t want to go to boarding school and we wanted to bring him up ourselves, rather than put him in the care of others. He’s done very well for himself, as in fact all his three siblings have done.
Following the flag has life-teaching intrinsic values to offset continuity. Hosting Mum and Dad's drinks or dinner do's, and waiting at table, and washing up, and being polite, are part of the virtuous offsets. Plus bed and breakfast and pub German.
Here's one bloke who won't be using his rank in his retirement.
Major general jailed for Dorset school fees fraud
Major general jailed for Dorset school fees fraud
Avoid imitations
Mine didn’t learn much Pub German. But then at the age of six months it wouldn’t have been expected in this household!
Thought police antagonist
Seemingly a neighbour.... the bit about his wife suddenly returning to London , as reported, is worth noting.....
Major general jailed for 21 months for Dorset boarding school fee fraud | Military | The Guardian
Major general jailed for 21 months for Dorset boarding school fee fraud | Military | The Guardian
