ARmy Rumour SErvice

[quote]

Originally Posted by Ventress

22 years service needs more respect than a plate of chips at lunch time. Working lunches are for LS&GC presentations.

Those who voted for a Working lunch should be ashamed of themselves as Mess members. Shocking.

I've attended one dining out night where we bid farewell to 6 mess members. The WO got to make his departure speech which should be a personal account. However, the more junior members did not due to time available thus after 22 years that special moment was unfairly lost.

Personally I'd prefer something less formal and more local. Dragging myself and all my kit over the water does not appeal to me, maybe it's because I'm virtually a non drinker that I find all social gatherings a displeasure.

Originally Posted by Ventress

Those who voted for a Working lunch should be ashamed of themselves as Mess members. Shocking.

.

Utter arrse ventress. I should be ashamed of myself because my oppinion of what constitutes a good sendoff and a good time differs from yours?

Dated attitudes of what is proper and right, such as yours, will be the death of the Mess, if you impose what isnt wanted the Mess loses support. I'm not suggesting that the membership turn tribal, get naked and do the dance of the flaming arrseholes accross the top table. Its simply my oppinion that the leaving member should be given the choice about their send off, and that choice respected without the wishes of others imposed upon them.

After earning the right to be a member of the Mess, we all have a say in its running. If that means chips in newspaper a few pints and an afternoon of bezzering at the bar, to give a member the memory of the Mess that they want then so be it.

I think your badge will have i different view when its his turn

The send off should be organised, on behalf of the sent off, around what they would like.

Originally Posted by boney_m

After earning the right to be a member of the Mess, we all have a say in its running. If that means chips in newspaper a few pints and an afternoon of bezzering at the bar, to give a member the memory of the Mess that they want then so be it.

Crack on then, look back on your hake and chips.

boney_m...............what an extremely chav-like attitude. I assume you'd also have Burberry baseball caps (worn backwards) as de-rigeour for the lunch ? A dining-out is exactly that, and after 22 years service it should be a full blown, mess kit / black tie, speeches, port and presentation night not some kind of pub lunch down the Nags Head with pork scratchings.

Originally Posted by The_Dragoon

boney_m...............what an extremely chav-like attitude. I assume you'd also have Burberry baseball caps (worn backwards) as de-rigeour for the lunch

Chav-like? New one on me, i'm far from it. I'm just suggesting that the Mess be a place for all the membership, and that their views be respected as to their dining out wishes.

One thing i dont want is the Mess to be an extension of the Naafi, a definate and defined step is taken on promotion to the Mess. However i'm of the opinion that the Mess should be inclusive to its membership and forward looking. Part of that is taking the wishes and views of the membership into account. One of the problems with Regimental Dinners for members retiring (again my problem, i always attend dinners for others), is that they tend to be grouped together with several members being dined out together which doesnt do the individual justice.

Beat me up all you like for having a differing take on the matter than you. I wouldnt impose my wishes on you, and wouldnt expect the wishes of others imposed upon me. I've been an active, supportive member of the mess for 8 years and am proud to be so - the Mess means differing things to different people. I accept that, and for the institution to survive in the days of bean counters, so must others.

Here endeth the lesson, i've got to go an oil change my 1.6 nova and polish the burberry paint.

When I left, I was dined out by the entire mess and had a working lunch farewell from the other Warrant Officers in the mess. Mind you, this was a Brigade mess (not a Corps one) and traditions were well respected. The GSM was a star when it came to mess matters.