RAF Club Thread: Not in Good Health
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As long as the ex-techies can manage to refrain from "that" song in the dining room
Ultimately the fate of the club is in the hands of the members, as it should be.
Having achieved the dizzying heights of Cpl during my time in the RAF I have never been eligible for membership, and in all honesty that fact has never bothered me.
If over time the connection between club members and the RAF become diminished due to serving officers not joining, and more civilians been invited to join in order to keep the club solvent, then so be it. If that is the wish of the members then that is what should happen. The vast majority of RAF personnel, past, present and future, won't even notice.
Anyone who feels offended about been excluded from membership should consider the words of Marx:-
"I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member."
Groucho Marx
Having achieved the dizzying heights of Cpl during my time in the RAF I have never been eligible for membership, and in all honesty that fact has never bothered me.
If over time the connection between club members and the RAF become diminished due to serving officers not joining, and more civilians been invited to join in order to keep the club solvent, then so be it. If that is the wish of the members then that is what should happen. The vast majority of RAF personnel, past, present and future, won't even notice.
Anyone who feels offended about been excluded from membership should consider the words of Marx:-
"I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member."
Groucho Marx
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Not bothered at all myself, as my visits to London are infrequent, it just seems wrong they are having to bolster the funds by inviting every man and his future dog in for weddings etc while barring those that actually serve in the RAF but haven't been commissioned...
You could have a Warrant Officer with 22 years of service, tit full of medals barred due to his rank, when a council estate slapper with 15 kids on benefits and on her 3rd wedding is invited in with open arms......
And before you ask I have nothing against Slappers or where they live or earn an income..
You could have a Warrant Officer with 22 years of service, tit full of medals barred due to his rank, when a council estate slapper with 15 kids on benefits and on her 3rd wedding is invited in with open arms......
And before you ask I have nothing against Slappers or where they live or earn an income..
It's a private club, funded by club members, for club members. If any public funding were involved then I would agree with you but there isn't, so it's the members wishes that matter.
Last edited by Avionker; 24th Aug 2013 at 19:28. Reason: missing word due to fingers working faster than brain....
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Then the name is then wrong and should be the RAF officers club, as it bars the majority of the RAF. How can you name a club where most of the RAF is barred?
Wonder how The name would ever stand up if challenged, but as I said I do not want to get into this earlier in the thread.
..
Wonder how The name would ever stand up if challenged, but as I said I do not want to get into this earlier in the thread.
..
Last edited by NutLoose; 24th Aug 2013 at 17:25.
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This is getting stupid. It's a private club The phrase RAF is not copyright protected. There is no apostrophe in the title.
Who would have thought a matter of grammar would have caused such debate on pprune. My membership had lappsed since leaving but I'm going to renew it now - because I can.
Courtney, if Scotland votes yes next year I'll take you up on that. We can raise a glass or 3 to all those who came on here to profess they have no interest in being members then assail the membership policy. Hey I'm assuming my membership will still be valid post independence - now there is a debate 
Who would have thought a matter of grammar would have caused such debate on pprune. My membership had lappsed since leaving but I'm going to renew it now - because I can.
Last edited by TomJoad; 24th Aug 2013 at 17:42.
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Not really. You'll still want to decide who comes into your house. Ah, that was your point. Note to self: think entire post through rather than start typing and make it up as you go along.
Er, can I come to your bar?
Er, can I come to your bar?
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Depends on what you stock in your bar.
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I guess that there are about 100 clubs in London, similar to the RAF Club. They all have membership eligibility criteria.
To Join the Alpine Club you have to be a mountaineer but if you're not a mountaineer you must feel really challenged not to be able to join the club.
The Beefsteak Club, at 9 Irving St, allows no "women members or visitors" but if you're a woman you must feel awful not to be able to partake of their beef.
Boodle's and Brooks's - both "Aristocratic" and respectively Tory and Whig. Hang on I'm Labour but I really really want to join!
City University Club, 50 Cornhill, only admits Oxbridge graduates. I'm not a graduate of anywhere but you lot are just snobs. So would I feel comfortable being a member of your club.
The East India Club in St James's Square - Public Schools old boys. Hang on, I went to St Marys grammar school in Middlesbrough - I demand the right to enroll.
The London Sketch Club in Dilke Street, Chelsea - I don't actually know what a sketch artist is but I demand my right to be a member.
All the above is just playing with words. My point is that clubs are all just groups of human beings and they can define and limit themselves however they like.
You guys with such a narrow focus on the RAF Club are missing a whole world of London Clubs out there that you could be complaining about!
Rgds SOS
To Join the Alpine Club you have to be a mountaineer but if you're not a mountaineer you must feel really challenged not to be able to join the club.
The Beefsteak Club, at 9 Irving St, allows no "women members or visitors" but if you're a woman you must feel awful not to be able to partake of their beef.
Boodle's and Brooks's - both "Aristocratic" and respectively Tory and Whig. Hang on I'm Labour but I really really want to join!
City University Club, 50 Cornhill, only admits Oxbridge graduates. I'm not a graduate of anywhere but you lot are just snobs. So would I feel comfortable being a member of your club.
The East India Club in St James's Square - Public Schools old boys. Hang on, I went to St Marys grammar school in Middlesbrough - I demand the right to enroll.
The London Sketch Club in Dilke Street, Chelsea - I don't actually know what a sketch artist is but I demand my right to be a member.
All the above is just playing with words. My point is that clubs are all just groups of human beings and they can define and limit themselves however they like.
You guys with such a narrow focus on the RAF Club are missing a whole world of London Clubs out there that you could be complaining about!
Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 25th Aug 2013 at 10:27. Reason: spaces
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How 'private' is the Club's use of an RAF badge? I doubt you would get one of those approved for your home bar.
How 'private' is all the quasi-official RAF activity that takes place there?
I happen to think it is a matter of real shame that, in particular, the non-commissioned pilots and other non-commissioned aircrew of WW2 were never deemed worthy of membership of the 'RAF Club'.
How 'private' is all the quasi-official RAF activity that takes place there?
I happen to think it is a matter of real shame that, in particular, the non-commissioned pilots and other non-commissioned aircrew of WW2 were never deemed worthy of membership of the 'RAF Club'.
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In one Broadsword, and in this day and age it should encompass the whole RAF, if you are willing to put your life on the line for the RAF you should be entitled to be a member of the club bearing that name.
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My bar (bookshelf) is open - malts mainly.
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How 'private' is the Club's use of an RAF badge? I doubt you would get one of those approved for your home bar.
How 'private' is all the quasi-official RAF activity that takes place there?
I happen to think it is a matter of real shame that, in particular, the non-commissioned pilots and other non-commissioned aircrew of WW2 were never deemed worthy of membership of the 'RAF Club'.
How 'private' is all the quasi-official RAF activity that takes place there?
I happen to think it is a matter of real shame that, in particular, the non-commissioned pilots and other non-commissioned aircrew of WW2 were never deemed worthy of membership of the 'RAF Club'.
Surely if the demand were there, then a 'I can't believe its not the RAF Club' would have been created many years ago for the non eligible members to join?
Its a private club, it can set whatever membership criteria it wishes, and does so. If you want to be a member, do the necessary to join it - e.g. change roles, jobs or ranks. If not, then what is the problem?
I should declare that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy honourary club membership for a year for professional reasons, but I was never able to avail myself of the facilities, so technically was a member, but I have no emotional stake in the argument.
Its a private club, it can set whatever membership criteria it wishes, and does so. If you want to be a member, do the necessary to join it - e.g. change roles, jobs or ranks. If not, then what is the problem?
I should declare that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy honourary club membership for a year for professional reasons, but I was never able to avail myself of the facilities, so technically was a member, but I have no emotional stake in the argument.
Last edited by Jimlad1; 24th Aug 2013 at 18:59.
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VSC
Victory Services Club is not far away from Marble Arch. free for all ranks serving members. Bars and a restaurant. (mind you the food has been variable over the years). The Curry night is good.
Big poster in the foyer saying it was gifted to the nations servicemen by Winston Churchill. Not elitist at all.
Some of you may be interested that the London Society of Air Britain meet there on the second Wednesday of each month. We put on some interesting lectures. The highlights of the current season are Tony Blackman on the Victor 9th October. TSR2 on 8th Jan and John Bessette on 12th Feb 14. We have had Winkle Brown and Norman Bonner several times in the past. Winkle was in fine fettle with Jean on his arm last year.
Big poster in the foyer saying it was gifted to the nations servicemen by Winston Churchill. Not elitist at all.
Some of you may be interested that the London Society of Air Britain meet there on the second Wednesday of each month. We put on some interesting lectures. The highlights of the current season are Tony Blackman on the Victor 9th October. TSR2 on 8th Jan and John Bessette on 12th Feb 14. We have had Winkle Brown and Norman Bonner several times in the past. Winkle was in fine fettle with Jean on his arm last year.
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Tom:
Two things... Firstly, if it's a private club with an exclusive membership why do you feel the need to discuss it's workings and failings in a public forum when you are so touchy about "public" input? Feel free to go and set up a forum for the RAF Club because, as has already been pointed out, the software is free so you can afford it.
Secondly, it seems by your attitude that it would be quite alright for someone to buy a nice property on the same street, let all comers in and call it THE RAF Club.But I have the feeling that someone would have a lawyer on their arse before the paint was dry on the sign.
This is getting stupid. It's a private club The phrase RAF is not copyright protected. There is no apostrophe in the title
Secondly, it seems by your attitude that it would be quite alright for someone to buy a nice property on the same street, let all comers in and call it THE RAF Club.But I have the feeling that someone would have a lawyer on their arse before the paint was dry on the sign.