Soldier Pallbearers Refused a Cup of Tea Before Comrade’s Funeral Because They Were in Uniform
28th June 2012
The servicemen, one of whom was the dead soldier’s brother, had taken a short break from rehearsing their duties for the funeral of Cpl Michael Thacker.
After rehearsing for the ceremony, the group attempted to purchase a cup of tea at Brown’s bar, near the cathedral in Coventry city centre at lunchtime.
Instead, staff told the grieving friends they could not serve them because they were wearing military uniforms which broke their dress code.
Welcome to the new Britain. Had they been Muslims, I’m sure they would have been served.
The shocked servicemen said they then left the bar and went to a nearby pub which served them hot drinks for free.
I guess all is not yet lost.
“Staff were unaware of the funeral. They were just following the company’s rules. I don’t really know what else I can say.”
You can admit that you’re a jerk, and fire whoever made those stupid ‘rules’.
June 28th, 2012 at 05:54
The Law of Unintended Consequences strikes again.
But the Right has adamantly asserted in many other cases that ‘The Rules Are The Rules, No Exceptions’, so I suppose that clucking and flapping of wings in the background is just coincidence…
June 28th, 2012 at 10:49
No, Dennis: The rules ARE the rules, but in this case the rules are f*ing stupid and should never have been created.
This isn’t about being flexible.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:39
“the rules are f*ing stupid and should never have been created”
You’ve never heard of a dress code at a restaurant? You should get out more. (I suspect the ‘dress code’ at the places you frequent involve Daisy Dukes, pointy-toed boots, and big silly hats.) Or maybe you think the owner doesn’t have any right to establish a dress code in the first place?
I’m just guessing, but it sounds like the dress code for the place was “jacket and tie for gentlemen”, and didn’t address uniforms–not that the owner had anything against uniforms, but just didn’t think to make an exception for them. It’s not like he posted a sign: “Uniformed Military Personnel Not Welcome”. It was an oversight, not a snub.
“This isn’t about being flexible.” It isn’t? The owner wasn’t present, and the policy he established didn’t cover the situation. So the waitstaff might have taken it upon themselves to ‘be flexible’ and allow them in. I would have. But if the owner is a dick, then the also might have lost their job for doing so.
In closing, I have to say the response is beginning to look a little like a Sharia crowd in Dearborn–bricks through the window, and all that…