Hoorah for Boris!
 

It seems our blonde haired, slightly aloof London Mayor has come up with the goods once again.

FREE LONDON UNDERGROUND TRAVEL FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES*

BBC News - Tory conference: Boris Johnson pledges loyalty to Cameron



*terms and conditions apply

"In uniform" - next to useless.

Watch out for a Walt invasion!

Thinks:

Can I still get into my Mess Kit and

Would it look odd on't Tube?

I predict that if there is ever a thread announcing free wine for all military for life, the first post will complain that it doesn't include grand crus.

MoD orders all duty tube travel to be conducted in uniform; no exceptions unless you are 1 star or above.

MoD suggest suitable life insurance at own expense.

Err, teh MOD can suggest all it wants.

Great thing about advice is that it can be ignored.

That would get the inhabitants of Main Building wearing uniform, which would be A Good Thing in my view!

When I was a student I had a mate who was an inspector in the Met who was doing a 3 year university degree on full pay (he even got a plain clothes allowance). On our trips to London it used to irk me that he could flash his police free travel pass while I had to shell out from my meagre grant (remember them?) for my tube ticket. Can't see Joe Public being terribly impressed seeing relatively well-paid servicemen, eg majors or equivalent on c£50+k, getting free travel while they are struggling to pay for their tube fare.

Life Insurance
 

A couple of years ago I used to travel regularly from Wyton to Abbey Wood by train in uniform (RAF No. 2 including natty forage cap) . This included taking the Circle Line at various times of the day. I rarely got a 2nd glance. My boss at the time travelled more often resplendent in his Gp Capt SD cap and had a similar experience. We reckoned that compared to some of the "sights" on the Tube, we looked positively normal. So I wouldn't be too worried about life insurance - albeit I didn't venture "south of the river" or east of Kings Cross

Very many years ago I was asked, along with several others, which company we drove for whilst eating in a transport 'caff' wearing Mess Kit ... we were there because the Dining-in night food had been inedible :yuk:

About a year ago, travelling back from Bristol ( off peak hrs ) I was intrigued to see a Gp.Capt no less ( with forage hat ) carrying a briefcase and lap top get on at Bristol Parkway and alight at New Street.

He did remember to carry both items of hand luggage with him.

Having just spent an enjoyable few weeks in the centre if London, the idea to provide free travel in London fit servicemen came from ...... Servicemen .... We asked for it and we asked for the privilege to travel in uniform. At the moment the reputation if the Armed Forces is sky high. Hopefully this honour will maintain our reputation,

I think this could be a really good idea for the army and the navy, but a bit less so for the RAF.

It wont be any fun for an RAF bod to have worked all day and then be pestered on the journey home in the mistaken belief that they work for the RAC and can give out free motoring advice:E

Mind you, if it was a pilot then he would be only too happy to give the motoring advice because he is an expert in all things and knows far more than those incompetent mechanics etc etc etc............

When as a sqn ldr I was one of the very few Crabs at Worthy Down I had to have a quiet word with the RSM and ask him tpo point out to his people that I was not "MOD Guard Force"

Uniform Wednesday is, I believe, still practised in Main Building. If it was made de riguer a fortune could be saved (both by the Budget Holders and the SP) on having to subsidise Oyster Cards.

I travelled a number of times on the Tube in a variety of uniforms - No 1s, No 2s, DPM, Mess Kit; nothing was ever said apart from a tourist (Canadian) who thought I was 'Royal Artillery' - I was returning from Uxbridge CCS and my back-pack strap covered 'Air Force' on the silly patches we had above our pockets on CS95. He was very pleasant, slapped me on the back and wished me well. However, I know that some women personnel are not happy about travelling in uniform - and that's understandable.

First sign of the change in Russia was seeing a Colonel of the RVSN waiting for a tube at Oxford Circus - in full regimentals and with his reflective brief case polished like a mirror and chained to his wrist - think he had some sort of Lieutenant with him

Very smart indeed........................

All military personnel in Canada wear uniform in public whilst on duty, even at civilian conferences.

The French paratroopers (Legion) used to not even be allowed civvies. Is this still the case?

I personally think seeing uniform (if propelry worn) around and about is great.

Just wondered if anyone could tell me why members of the armed services should be given free public transport though?