I thought he divorced.... oh never mind!

All, thanks for the advice/comments. My concern was that the SWO who is arranging the funeral of the serving officer had let it be known that retired officers SHOULD NOT (my caps) wear uniform. I was simply trying to avoid anything that may detract from the occasion. As someone suggested - I will now withdraw and let it run. CB

Training Risky Frankly it doesn't bother me but I think your arguments are stretching a number of points (wedding the same as a funeral, for example, although a few on here would probably agree!)

I recently attended the funeral of a retired major of the Paras, who had also served as an officer in the TA. A number of retired military officers were there, including yours truly, a former Buccaneer wing commander and several others. Nobody wore uniform although there were a lot of regimental and RAF ties in evidence.

The cavalry regiments allow former Captains to use their ranks, if they are employment deals with horses.

This is NOT a joke!

Nope. It is the case that Flt Lts can use their rank as RAF Retd.

From Debretts:

Retired and Former Officers
Marshals of the Royal Air Force remain on the active list for life, and so continue to use this rank.
Other officers of the rank of squadron leader and above may use, and be addressed by, their rank after being placed on the retired list.
It is official practice for the Ministry of Defence to add the abbreviation ‘retd’ after a retired officer’s name, although this is not strictly necessary.

Not looked at QRs yet, but I think Debretts draw their information from there. Don't know if this applies to commissions resigned or not...

A curiosity but I believe flt lt have the right whereas lt and capt don't.

A few years ago there was a letter in the DT by one NS near Grantham who used his rank when he retired decades earlier. The rank was probably relevant to the subject.

My father retired from the RAFVR(T) and kept his substantive rank (it was gazetted so, I checked). he was allowed to wear his uniform on HM Queen's birthday, Battle of Britain day, and Remembrance Sunday.

At his funeral last week, his CO attended (serving ATC squadron CO-dad was a CI) along with two other ATC officers (Flt Lt and Sqd Ldr). I knew neither men personally, but I had contact with his former CO and had encouraged the wearing of Full No1 dress at the funeral (including medals), as my father wanted this.

It was extremely touching to have my fathers coffin (draped in the Union Flag with his Hat and gloves on top) saluted in by fellow officers of the 'branch' he had seved in as both a CI, NCO and Comissioned Officer for well over 30 years. Frankly if this was against the rules I'm sorry, but I think occasions like this far from bringing the ATC into any disrepute, do it the world of good.

For the record, the Wing Commander of the relevant wing was a former cadet of my dad on his squadron, and a junior officer on his squadron before climbing the ranks. He was unable to attend due to being on holiday but he was aware of ll of the plans, and had been in touch with me-I knew him too as I was squadron mascot at the time...

TTN - I fully agree I am reaching...but arguing the toss over the meaning of many a QR and JSP provided me with hours of amusement/misery over the years! Agreed this case doesn't bother me either: I would wear what 'felt right' in the circs.

(Was the former Bucc Wg Cdr a Hibernian IOT Cadet boss and AWC school boss per chance?)

TR, huge deviation but,

I was fed up with Handbrake House referring to JSPs and Admin letters to which we common aircrew were not privy.

I found what I needed in QRs then went to HBH and asked for a copy of the relevant JSP. I got them to confirm there were no Admin letters pertaining. Then I struck.

I opened QRs at the relevant QR and got them to agree that my understanding was correct. Then the JSP which showed the fine detail. Result! Sepal when everyone assumed no entitlement. It turned out that periods back at base, including weekends, could count as Separation