Wear Your Uniform With Pride
Hot on the heels of Prince Harry’s return from Afghanistan, comes the story that RAF personnel were advised not to wear their uniforms in Peterborough. Again, thanks to the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (see previous post) I have some experience of the public’s reaction to uniform. Members of the scheme get their own fatigues and a nifty belt, specially designed for the “regiment”, and they are encouraged to wear it when visiting troops. So it was that at 4am I popped into an all night garage in Faringdon, on my to Brize Norton, where I was leaving for Afghanistan, wearing my fatigues. The chap behind the counter promptly gave me a free coffee and newspaper and wished me luck. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I was an (his) MP. He probably would have charged me double!
At our Remembrance Day services, in Wallingford, Didcot, Faringdon, and Wantage, attendance has been going up every year. There is a huge pride in our troops and their efforts, regardless of people’s views of the rights and wrongs of the war. We have quite a local presence - RAF Benson, which has suffered sad losses; the bomb disposal team in Didcot, where a couple fo squadrosn have just left for a tour; and Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, where, to thank them for their almost constant presence in Iraq, the Government has decided to close their Post Office. You couldn’t make it up.
PS for those interested, no baby yet. Ten days late and counting!
Votedave said on March 9th, 2008 at 5:29 pm:
Whether one wears their uniform in public or not should be entirely of their own choice.
Sue said on March 9th, 2008 at 9:34 pm:
Second babies are notoriously late. I’m sure you won’t have to wait too much longer!!
Tizzy said on March 11th, 2008 at 4:26 am:
Civil forces such as the police, and nurses, too, are banned from wearing their uniforms off-duty for a number of good reasons. I understand the incident that triggered the ban was because a particular RAF nurse had been severely harassed at home and around Peterborough, and after similar events to others over a period of time.
Presumably, Peterborough have lived with the sight of RAF Wittering personnel on duty for some time. As nasty and small-minded as the few idiots who did this, I have a feeling there is more than has been reported. That does not mean the idiots should be excused.
I hope baby Anna has popped out by now (has to be a girl).