The secret handshake - or lack of (that you’re taught on that carpet in CHOM) - will show you up.
That is the password… For admittance. But, may I ask… What is the password for the house?
I think I need to have a chat with my good friend, AVM Tarquin Bumsnort-Fartingly and give him the heads up about a potential invasion by the great unwashed.
He’ll no doubt wish to organise barricades and flaming torches.
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Ha ha. I was about to sit alone in the restaurant and got asked to join a couple from the states. A retired Lt Col and a general of some kind. Really enjoyed it. I will be going back again soon. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to go to London. They even allowed trainers.
“Trainers”?
“TRAINERS”!!!
“DO YOU MEAN T-R-A-I-N-E-RS”!!!
That was Tarquin’s response when I told him. I looked around for the AED because I thought he was going to have a clutcher. A member of the membership committee was walking past at the time so Tarquin grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and marched him off wagging his finger in his face.
Dear Tarquin. A double DFC winner in the Boer War, y’know.
I wouldn’t wear trainers there again if I were you…
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Hilarious.
Last time i was there in January, I was sat having a coffee in the Cowdry Lounge and an old gentleman hobbled in, made himself comfortable and ordered his ‘usual’. After a while I asked if I could join him, turns out he flew Lancaster’s in the final few months of the war.
He had some interesting tales about dropping food parcels over Holland immediately after the war and flying in the Berlin airlift.
He de-mobed in 1957 as a Flt Lt.
Couldnt have met a nicer more genuine person in the world.
Turns out he lived in Norfolk, but once a year in january, every january he went to the club and stayed for a week. ‘His treat’ after his wife died quite young in 1980 something.
He just liked being around other people like him for 1 week a year.
I found out through the RAF club, that he passed away in April.
That’s my experience of the club.
Nice people in a nice environment.
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The worst thing i ever experienced at the club was Sunday brunch.
Buffet meal, all of the breakfast options (Even mad stuff like kippers, when do you ever see kippers at a buffet?!) as well as ALL of the Sunday lunch options, roasts etc…
It was terrible, I just couldn’t decide whether I wanted breakfast or lunch, i wanted it all, and I couldn’t have it!
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They do a mean breakfast.
Mother’s Day lunch is also fantastic.
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Oh but you can!
Myself and my old Adj have been known to visit on a Sunday for just that purpose!
I want to fit in my uniform again one day!
Actually, saying that, my 5s will probably fit better than they have since I purchased them now…
The Mess Room at work. Every Sunday breakfast before the weekly drill, Kippers on the Buffet 
standards to maintain!
All,
Just way if a brief update.
The ‘just giving’ campaign has skyrocketed from 50k to over 120k in the last week.
Thank you to everyone who donated every £.
I know that every £ is highly valuable right now so it is even more gratefully recieved by the club.
Equally any other charities or organisations people are supporting.
Keep spreading the word if you are able.
Thanks.
I’m taking my staff for drinks next week so we will be doing our bit.
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Quite an impressive income in a week!
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Reading all the replies on here it is interesting to try to work out which of us are ex regular officers.
My first experience at the RAF club was during RAF initial officer training course in 1982 (Course 66). In the second week of training they took us to the RAF museum and the RAF club, and that is when I signed up. When we went down to the Running Horse Tavern there was quite a large group of very elderly gentleman enjoying some copious libations- we were immediately heckled as “Snotties” and asked to join them, it turned out to be a RFC reunion. Listening to these real WW1 fighter pilots quickly showed the importance of the RAF Club! More recently I have bumped into many colleagues from my RAF time who I just would not have met again otherwise.
I live in Cheshire but get to visit London once a month and feel honoured to stay there. Not being a cheapskate I pay the Retired Regular Officer rate I have been paying for years…could be why I am broke! However ( and not wanting to start another thread about it) I will never use that “waste of space“ RAFAC post nominal there - sorry, but RAF & RAF VR(T) are the real ones.!
Fire Extinguisher ready for flaming!
Anyway, to go back to Paracetamol’s original post, well worth it if you can justify any trips to London - just hope the post Covid world allows them.
Without wishing to sound rude, Capt SkyDiver, I’m aware of the post-nominal situation and that the VR pilots are still VR pilots.
I’m also ex-RAF. Not for as long as you were mind!
Talking of which (to support my point made in previous posts), VR pilots wings have exactly that in the centre - VR Not VR(T)! So why are so many people continuing to quote “VR(T)” in all things ATC-related?
Maybe one day when all this covid stuff is over, I’ll join you in the Running Horse and we can have a Spitfire or ten whilst pulling up a landmine and swinging the lantern. You can bore the snotties and I’ll rip the p… out of them!
I think that’s enough about commission types - we have threads for that already.
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I would be interested in joining in theory however in practice I’d feel concerned about feeling like an imposter/Walt/being looked down on having never been a Reg or Reserve. For example the stories above about people being invited over to join others, is really nice but would it be awkward all around if I say actually ‘I’m just involved with Cadets but in my day job I do…’ or are examples of the above few and far between?
I appreciate that those with a Cadet force commission can join and we do important work in our own way but I was curious to know if this is a legitimate concern or if I am just being overly anxious!
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Never been an issue for me. But then I’ve always been clear with everyone that I’m a glorified scout leader. People I’ve spoken to have been amazed at what we do for free and, especially if ex-cadets themselves, grateful for the training we give the kids. I imagine you might get a different reception if you went in and pretended that your Fieldcraft Instructor qual made you equal to a regiment officer, but if you don’t Walt/bloat then no problem, but if you’re worrying about being accused of that then I assume it won’t be an issue for you.
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