Victim or lead swinger?

[firestorm]

http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/l...-veteran-who-lives-in-a-peugeot-206-1-3810763

After reading the above article in the local rag (and the comments!) I'd welcome your thoughts.

 

[John Lloyd]

Just another poor unfortunate trying to get by. He won't be the only one. There's plenty of ex servicemen out there struggling with the rest.

 

[busby1971]

So much for engineers earning more on the outside ;-)

More seriously this is probably the end of a complicated journey where something appears to have gone wrong, combat stress? like comment #2

 

[Tin basher]

So much for engineers earning more on the outside ;-)

Off Topic Quite so, I know far more engineers who earn less post RAF, than engineers who allegedly earn far moreOff Topic


As to the guy in the article I'd wager that the story barely scratches the surface of how he ended up in the situation the paper highlights he's now in.

 

[firestorm]

Would this man be entitled to help from RBL, SSAFA or some such organisation or does he need to step up and take responsibility for himself and his family?
I think it the later.

 

[Teh Wal]

Whilst I have some sympathy for the bloke this comment sets small anti-sympathy alarm bells ringing:

Councillor Raj Khan, who has been following the case, said: “Mr Sibthorpe has not got the best history in terms of rent-history and arrears. There is a lot of issues and Mr Sibthorpe could have managed his situation much better.

Just 'cos he's ex-RAF it doesn't mean he's a salt-of-the-earth type of chap that deserves our instant respect and support... we've all come across chancers and wideboys who think that the world owes them, people who arent prepared to look after themselves (in more ways than one) but think someone else should.
"Combat stress" - I know some of the blokes (RMs, Paras and RAF engineers) who were on the Falklands during the conflict 30 years ago... A RAF engineer suffering combat stress? I suppose we all react to situations in different ways but hmmm...!

 

[Joe_90]

In theory he might react worse than the Paras etc you mention. Being in the RAF at that time he probably never expected to go anywhere outside a HAS. When he suddenly realised he was within a few miles of people who actually wanted him dead it could flick a switch. Ultimately he's screwed now anyway, now he has arrears he won't get private housing until it's paid. If he gets social housing he is trapped in whatever hovel they offer him until he pays those arrears off as well. He's not about to get an easy life, if he has had one since leaving the RAF.

 

[br9mp81]

iirc,there was a fair few raf techies on the atlantic convenyer, also,iirc a snco who was one of the last off the boat was awarded a medal for his actions that day.

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

I wonder what he'd say if his 17 year old son asked him, "Daddy, what did you do in the Falklands war?"