— go back to the guide
While working at Bovingdon Airfield, my father had to provide services to the RAF station commander. The two men got on very well, and respected each other. My father would sometimes find funds for necessary work even when it was not strictly according to the book. He explained to me that he did this when it was obvious that this was in accordance with the purpose of the regulations, if not their letter. The saying to the workmen, when an inspection by the RAF grandees was due, was ‘If it moves, salute it! If it doesn’t move, paint it!’ —and never mind the budgetary rules.
I believe that the opportunities for corruption in his job were considerable. He spoke to me with strong disapproval of colleagues in similar positions to his who were able to divert or siphon off building supplies and labour from contractors to build themselves private houses. He himself certainly never did anything like that. But he would bend the details of the rules where he thought it would enable him to do his job better and fulfil their purpose. This influenced me.