Cpl's Bars?

[Trusty Adjusty]

Following on from the "Cpl over SAC" accomodation thread, it was discussed that Cpl's Bars were disbanded due to lack of interest - is this true? As someone who has only ever seen one on a Navy base (they made me go) it looks like a decent idea. Does anyone else believe there is still a place in the modern RAF for such a thing? Or would it just go unused or abused? Were they actually any good? Any thoughts

 

[AlienFB]

Raf Reg have one at Honington. Now that they have the Lance Jack rank as well it seems a good idea for them to seperate off.

Not sure if it works in reality, tended to aviod them green people when i was there!

 

[gemarriott]

Cpl's clubs were a waste of time. Most only went there on games nights against the Sgts and officers messes.

Most of us didn't give a damn about the rules either and would use them as all ranks clubs at supper when they realised they were losing money handover fist ansd were a quick place to get served.

At Wattisham in 1982 we voted for disbandment ourselves.

 

[Max Reheat]

They were shut through lack of interest when there were 80000 people in the RAF, can't see it being any better with half that number left. Most NAAFI bars are deserted these days

 

[duffman]

The last one was shut (bar RockHQ) in 04/5 at uxbridge, I think. I remember someone wrote into pravda, and the raf spokesman said basically it's upto you out there, and as there were only a handful of people in the club they were forced to close.

 

[muttywhitedog]

All messes (JRs, Offs & SNCOs) are dying - some quicker than others, so re-introducing something that didnt work 20 years ago aint going to work. The sooner they bring in an all ranks facility instead of 3 the better.

(I've instantly sorted the 10% or 20% cut in the defence budget ordered by Cameron)!!

 

[Stevienics]

Cpl's clubs and club bars were already dead in the 80's. The world has moved on from cheap beer and bad conversation as a pursuit in itself, everywhere.

 

[sausage2]

All messes (JRs, Offs & SNCOs) are dying - some quicker than others, so re-introducing something that didnt work 20 years ago aint going to work. The sooner they bring in an all ranks facility instead of 3 the better.

(I've instantly sorted the 10% or 20% cut in the defence budget ordered by Cameron)!!

Whilst they may not be as popular as they once were, I personally would hate to see the 3 messes go. As a SNCO it would be beneath me to eat with JR's or officers. What If one of them spoke to me I would feel soiled. They may as well have sh1t in my bed. I really don't want to eat and socialise with scum like that.

 

[Stevienics]

Whilst they may not be as popular as they once were, I personally would hate to see the 3 messes go. As a SNCO it would be beneath me to eat with JR's or officers. What If one of them spoke to me I would feel soiled. They may as well have sh1t in my bed. I really don't want to eat and socialise with scum like that.

I feel sure the officers feel the same, for were you to invite them over for dinner, they would inevitably show up 7 hours too late.

 

[Realist78]

You will never get rid of the officers mess.

 

[Drill Bit]

All messes (JRs, Offs & SNCOs) are dying - some quicker than others, so re-introducing something that didnt work 20 years ago aint going to work. The sooner they bring in an all ranks facility instead of 3 the better.

(I've instantly sorted the 10% or 20% cut in the defence budget ordered by Cameron)!!

SNCOs and Officers have their messes in order to relax and unwind in a way that would be highly inappropriate in front of the junior ranks. The opposite is equally applicable, juniors don't want to feel ill at ease whilst drinking under the watchful eyes of SNCOs and Officers.

Having an all ranks facility instead of a 3 respective messes/bars is no way, and never will be, better.

But back to the Cpls' Club point; the clubs haven't died out because they were over over used. Whilst the idea is great the reality is that, these days, the vast majority of JNCOs would rather drink and socialise with their SACs/LACs.

 

[muttywhitedog]

SNCOs and Officers have their messes in order to relax and unwind in a way that would be highly inappropriate in front of the junior ranks. The opposite is equally applicable, juniors don't want to feel ill at ease whilst drinking under the watchful eyes of SNCOs and Officers.

Having an all ranks facility instead of a 3 respective messes/bars is no way, and never will be, better.

But back to the Cpls' Club point; the clubs haven't died out because they were over over used. Whilst the idea is great the reality is that, these days, the vast majority of JNCOs would rather drink and socialise with their SACs/LACs.

I meant it would be "better" as in there will be just one facilty on camp that is underused rather than the current 3. Having a mess with a manager and staff to cater to the whims of half a dozen people is financial suicide. Mess bills only go towards the "extras", not pay for the staff/infrastructure costs, which are met by us all as taxpayers.

 

[Cloaky]

Cpl's Clubs were outdated when I was in the Mob 1969 - 1975.
In those days, only the idiots and W*****r's used them mostly.
I was sent out of the one in Gibraltar by some Shiney from HQ, but got back in by another of my detachment oppo's.

We further put their noses out of joint, when we held our Detachment Leaving party there.

DT_Xtremez_26:

 

[Mickwreay]

Whilst they may not be as popular as they once were, I personally would hate to see the 3 messes go. As a SNCO it would be beneath me to eat with JR's or officers. What If one of them spoke to me I would feel soiled. They may as well have sh1t in my bed. I really don't want to eat and socialise with scum like that.

Here, here........where else can you fight without the ****ies watching?

Missing you already mate.

 

[Soon To Leave]

As Chairman of a successfully run Cpls' Club in the early 90s I have to say in principle they are a very good idea. Ours was completely separate from the NAAFI bar, had an active committee, subsidised beer, regular entertainment, but even so there was a large number of members that detested paying their £1 a month and prefered their time with the SACs in the pigs bar.

Those same Cpls' are now Sgts or C/Ts, resent paying their £20 a month subs and can't be bothered to attend functions in the mess.

 

[Realist78]

Maybe the problem is that in the RAF, we give people choices rather than edicts, unlike the Army.

 

[he_who_dares_rodney]

SNCOs and Officers have their messes in order to relax and unwind in a way that would be highly inappropriate in front of the junior ranks.

Correct I would never have wanted to see a bunch of upper class delinquients dressed in V Necks, grey slacks and slip on shoes bouncing Tarquin and Wodneys MG into the foyer and then torching a piano in high spirits

Far better to drink flat larger out of plastic glasses and try and see down Claire from PSF's top

 

[propersplitbrainme]

As Chairman of a successfully run Cpls' Club in the early 90s I have to say in principle they are a very good idea. Ours was completely separate from the NAAFI bar, had an active committee, subsidised beer, regular entertainment, but even so there was a large number of members that detested paying their £1 a month and prefered their time with the SACs in the pigs bar.

Those same Cpls' are now Sgts or C/Ts, resent paying their £20 a month subs and can't be bothered to attend functions in the mess.

I suppose it depends a lot on where the unit concerned is located as to whether or not a mess or Cpls Club would be adequately attended. In my experience, the social revolution of home ownership that flooded Britain in the late 70s and 80s meant that the RAF station where people worked became less and less the hub of their social life too. Our Cpls' Club at Wittering was disbanded in the early 80s because so few members saw it as a place to go and socialise, the local hostelaries in Stamford were far better suited and frequented.
The same attitude is, as you say, now permeating up into the SNCOs' mess as witnessed by a recent thread on mess bills on the Goat. It seems to be a facility that is out of tune with the lifestyle and needs of modern servicemen; I wonder how much longer it will last.

 

[Soon To Leave]

It seems to be a facility that is out of tune with the lifestyle and needs of modern servicemen; I wonder how much longer it will last.

Until 'modern' servicemen start using the facilities and take an active part in promoting change by joining the committee, nothing will change. A balance has to found between maintaining standards and traditions whilst moving with the times.

From my exchange visits with Officers' Messes I have noted them to be less formal and dated. This is probably down to the influence of the wider age range of its members.

I do welcome the RAF's efforts to promote use by the younger and newly promoted by subsidising their mess dress and giving at least a 5% pay-rise to offset the costs of mess membership.

 

[duffman]

In my experience, the social revolution of home ownership that flooded Britain in the late 70s and 80s meant that the RAF station where people worked became less and less the hub of their social life too.

I think you've nailed it there, peoples choices in their free time have changed massively in the last 30 odd years across society and the RAF doesn't exist in bubble and as society changes so will the raf, maybe not the same or at the same speed, but nothing stays the same forever.