From Wiki.

Could be quite apt. LB

Could be quite apt. - LB

Just so long as someone has the matter firmly in hand....:ooh:

Jack

Just stick to the case in point.

I said amuse yourself, lad ......... are you deaf?

My wife won't let me use my title on BA :ugh:

Mind you, a purchased American pseudo-Barony [$15, IIRC, and done as a wind-up for someone else] is possibly a bit out of order ;)

I'm off to a top table event tomorrow, in honour of a very special man retiring after many years service through MSS, C130 Ground engineer and as Warrant Officer SAGE (Senior Aircraft Ground Engineer) in recent years. There will be not one "sir", nothing but first names and great memories of times shared in days past. I suspect though that we will not be joined by many "senior officers" who might like to hang on to their former (self assumed) glory. It's a sad indictment of what is happening in the RAF these days that the event will be held in a local hotel, as the "major transport base" cannot provide a reasonable menu or cost for the attendees. If any of you retired "senior officers" need to locate your real standing for your assertions of superiority, I suggest Flt Lt Danny42C, on another thread might be worth a read. A man of few pretensions, but then, he was a real warrior officer !!!!

Smudge

Bit harsh there, Smuj. Plenty here that don't assert any superiority on the basis of any previously held rank. Most of the debate here (well, a lot) is based on people's professional experience.

I acknowledge you may be writing more generally, but don't tar everyone with the same brush. :ok:

Highest rank I attain was Mr.. The rest was just superfluous.

Smuj,


If my memory serves me, was it not "policy" as taught at OCTU many years ago that officers may put in a brief appearance at all ranks parties away from base but care should be taken to leave before the drinking really started? This was not to protect the officer should any fists start flying, but to protect the juniors from an end of career should they connect with the wrong chin. Not that I am saying that your top table would end up that way, but .....

Fists start flying? That seems to me a very old fashioned view and more akin to the army or navy I would have thought.

However, senior officers putting in a brief visit (if they were invited) was all that was expected of them at the retirement parties I ever went to, including my own.
After I had left the RAF I went to a Chief/tech's leaving do. It was held in the Sgt's mess. Dinner was Silver Service, and not only did the Winco/tech turn up but also the Station Commander, who on leaving ordered the barman to keep the bar open as long as the party required it to!

The same etiquette existed at the company I worked for. A director would turn up at ones 'leaving do' say a few words, shake hands and bugger off...job done!

Fists start flying? That seems to me a very old fashioned view and more akin to the army or navy I would have thought.

Old-fashioned indeed, and certainly not in my Navy, thank you!:ok: Can't answer for the pongoes...

However, senior officers putting in a brief visit (if they were invited) was all that was expected of them at the retirement parties I ever went to, including my own.

Where's Hangarshuffle when you want him? He has previously expressed strong views on this.... :uhoh:

Jack

Dagenham, Sixer (Cubs) Rtd

Wensleydale, don't know if you were at Waddo when we had someone holding prior to a courts martial. Details limited to protect the guilt.

At an all ranks party at one of the less couth establishments where such things were common, there was an altercation where an officer was sufficiently incautious to allow himself to be decked.

In accordance with MAFL this is an absolute case and the guilty party was fined the best part of a month's pay. The GP was mightily relieved to receive only a fine and retain his rank.

The officer, the innocent party (:mad:), was advised that alternative employment would be good for his future careers.

And on WD's recollection, that was extant in the 60s as well. As Orderly Officer you would be advised to attend any fracas in the Airmens' Club and stand bravely behind the Orderly Sergeant and any RAFP available. As shown above, allowing oneself to be hit was almost as bad as an OR striking an officer.

As Orderly Sgt at Akrotiri I and the Orderly Officer were warned by the SP's that there would be quite a few Paras drinking in the Airmen's Club, that evening.
I was briefed that if they were reluctant to leave I was to warn them that I would send for the police with dogs. ''And you sir, said the SP, ''I advise you to stay well away and let the Sergeant handle it'' (gulp)
As it happened, after some banter, they left quietly apart from knocking over a huge pyramid of empty Tennants beer cans, as they walked out.

As part of my junior officer's training, I accompanied a Petty Officer Regulator and his Leading Regulator sidekick of the Chatham-based Naval Provost Marshal's Shore Patrol around the hot spots of the Medway towns one Saturday night. They advised me to stay in the vehicle in the event of any altercation. As stated before, this was intended more to protect any sailor from aggravating his offence by having a pop at me than protecting me from injury.

The Naval Patrol had a close relationship with the local civpol and they looked out for each other's interests. On spying a long-haired drunk acting aggressively towards a group of people on the pavement, the PO Reg exited the patrol wagon saying, "It's okay, Sir. You can come along on this one. He's a civvy."