Thread: Passing Out Parade Question

Hello

My boyfriend is in the TA...we haven't officially been together very long but I've known him a while and, to be perfectly honest, am completely crazy about him

Anyway, it's his Passing Out Parade soon, and he has asked me to go. I think I've got the outfit sorted (1950s peach lace dress, wrap and heels) but really I wondered about the actual order of the day. My parents were in the Navy and my grandad in the Marines so I have a vague idea...but wondered if it was different for the army. Is it the standard milling about, drills, food and drinks? It's at Pirbright, if this helps...has anyone been to one recently who can give me a bit of a heads up?? Would be really grateful!

It's my birthday the day after his Passing Out Parade, and as corny as it sounds, having him home is the only present I really want

Elle

Welcome to RP!

G is a Marine Boy and had his passing out this July. We had to get there really early, and were introduced to his training team. Then a video presentation showing them in training. Then there was the actual ceremony where the guys get their berets and awards are given out. After that, they went on to the drill square and did some drill with the band which was lovely. After that, lunch, drinks, LOTS of photos and kit being shared out between cars as he was off to Hull for driver training straight after a long weekend!

It was a lovely day, felt very proud of him. As for dress, it sounds lovely and perfectly appropriate to me? Most people dressed up - smart casual I guess was the general idea? Few people wearing hats etc.

there's a talk and then a walk around camp and then they parade. After that its drinks and cuddles all around. Hubby passed out this summer.

Enjoy the day

Hubby passed out in dec, it's cold on them squares so wrap up lots of waiting about, we got there earlyish for good seat or left sat at side no shelter, lasted about a hour then off to get food and drink. Have a fab day

I'll be going to my boyfriend's passing out parade soon, just wondering if there's any restrictions on what u can take into the place, bags wise?

As it's a bit of a trek to get there (looking at 2 or 3 train changes!) I'm considering maybe going the night before and staying in a hotel, then making my way to camp from there. However this would mean carrying an overnight bag with me. Would this be an issue? Do they provide any cloakroom/locker facilities? I'm not the best at travelling light!

Hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread btw!

My sister in law passed out from Pirbright a few months ago. If I remember rightly we stood around for a while then took our seats. We were then spoken to briefly about fire exits, how hard everyone has worked and how we should cheer loudly at the appropriate times.

It was then drills and awards then some more standing around waiting for them to do whatever they were doing, then lots of photos. Then into the cookhouse for a meal (i hope you have a strong stomach if it was anything like what we had!). We then went to the bar (there is somewhere in there you can buy pics and videos of the day if you want to. Be warned they're not cheap though) and had a few drinks while my SIL packed up her stuff.

Thanks for advice, all! And not to worry, cupcake, I hope you find your answers too

It's only two days to go now...booked tomorrow afternoon off work to get hair cut and nails done! It's like getting married, I'm that nervous about seeing him, haha. Have lost ten pounds since he went away so I hope I look nice for him...am nervous about meeting his army friends! He's very very different to me, I am like some ridiculous 50s throwback and he's a proper 'lad's lad', so I don't want to embarrass him...I'm probably being silly.

ANYWAY. Thank you all for the info and I look forward to it - worried about how cold it's going to be, I don't want to wear a coat (all my coats are proper 1950s style and I don't want to look out of place or stand out) so have just bought a wrap to go over my dress...hope that will suffice! I'm going with his best friend who is also in the TA and passed out ages ago (although is USELESS when it comes to asking for info about the day!) so hopefully I won't feel so nervous with him by my side!

Enjoy it!!!! you will be fine, he obviously loves you for you!!! Enjoy it girls and especially the pampering and hope that you have comfy shoes!!!

Good luck girls!!! xxx

deffo comfy shoes! I was crippled by the end of the day!

Originally Posted by ldw1989

Thanks for advice, all! And not to worry, cupcake, I hope you find your answers too

Thanks! Although having looked at the train times and what not, I'm just going to travel down the night before. Works out cheaper too!

Enjoy your day!

comfy shoes, loads of tissues ( dark glasses) and this time of year wrap up warm. You'll see all sorts of costume from suits to jeans, to what my daughter hissingly calls (she's almost wearing that pelmet....). Going down the night before is always a good idea ( we always do, plenty notice travelodge etc is cheap) and you could probably dump your stuff in your OH's room. Enjoy

My OH passed out from Pirbright last July. He proposed to me at his pass out parade! I told the story of how it happened somewhere on here! haha. I went with his mum and sister, and his dad and dads fiancee was there too.
Basically how the day went was..
We arrived and parked up the car and basically waited around having drinks and things for what seemed like ages! I think the actual passing out started at 11 and ended about something to 1..we arrived at 9! We got lead to the drill square where we all sat down on those metal bench like things..Im not sure if its same for the TA (my OH is a regular) but they were in two platoons and we had to sit at the right side for the right platoon, because the two passed out at the same time.
It started with the band marching around the drill square playing music and someone doing a bit of talking..then a little 10minute wait or something and the platoons got marched onto the drill square. Its quite easy to find your OH by the last name, because theyre in alphabetical order. My OH is a B, so he was towards one of the sides of the group..after that they did a march around with the band and they swap sides a lot so if your OH is at the back you'll be able to see him. After that they stand still for what seems like ages, people were getting really impatient, im not sure what that was all about! but eventually someone comes around and does an inspection on them all individually..which took a lot of time! After that awards were handed out for things like best improved, marksman and all that stuff.
During the parade, there are people filming it so you can buy it afterwards if you like, but we didnt. Your allowed to take pictures.
After that, theyre marched off and you're lead back to where you originally came from for more drinks, and after a while the platoons march round to where you are, where your finally allowed to see them again! This was the first time i'd seen my OH in 7 weeks and it was amazing Everyone hung round for a while and had drinks and photos and then we all went to where they go to eat. It feels like your back at school again! Sinks to wash your hands in before dinner and that alcohol gel stuff for your hands too..I seem to remember my OH giving us tickets that got us our dinner when we were there. We were some of the last in and by the time we got our dinner (which was actually really nice) most people had left to gather around their accommodation. My OH eats mega fast and he left me with his family eating while he went back to his accommodation to sort his stuff out to leave. We eventually left and followed on, all the families were stood around the accommodation waiting for them to be sent away. The soldiers were stood to attention at either side of the path to the accommodation and I thought this was normal! The corporal came asking who was my OHs family, and then took me and stood me at the end of the rows of soldiers, and I wondered what was going on! My OH came marching down the middle of the 2 lines of soldiers and went down on one knee and proposed! I couldnt believe it! All the families were clapping and a woman came up to me crying...I was in so much shock I was shaking, and a corporal gave me a shot of port which I did try to sip, but it didnt happen because I was shaking that bad I had to down it or I would have spilt it! Anyway, after all that..they brought all their bags out of their accommodation and stood to attention one last time and were given a little speech from the corporal, then sent away..and off we went home..a journey that should have took 3.5 hours and took 6 hours because of traffic! I think it was about 3.30 when we left.

Some tips, make sure your warm! You'll be outside a lot, and unfortunately the day in July of his pass out, it rained. I wore a maxi dress and heels and I wish now I wore comfortable shoes! there were some people with ridiculously high shoes..struggling to walk! I wish I'd have took at least a cardigan too now! I probably recommend a smart coat for this time of the year?

Another thing, we went down the night before and stayed in a travel lodge..it was the travel lodge in Camberly (sp?) and isnt too far from pirbright. Although if you put the satnav on for it, it trys to send you down a dirt track at the back of the barracks! so may take a little longer than the satnav says to get from the travel lodge to pirbright..so just allow a bit of time for that. Definitely recommend going the night before though because its a long day of travelling if not. Quite a few other families for the pass out were there too.

Have a great time! Take lots of photos!