A uniform responsibility

Over the years I have been to loads sports events, concerts, theatre shows and music festivals and each time I've managed to stay inconspicuous.  No one gets in my way or tries to ask me anything.  I just blend into the background the same as the thousands of other people present.
 
The moment I put on my St John Ambulance uniform however, people start coming up to me and asking questions.  Normally they are looking for directions and inevitably it will be directions to the nearest toilet.  Failure to answer or provide appropriate directions will usually result in a frown, or at the very least a disappointed shake of the head.  That's fine though, I can live with that.  It just means that before every duty I attend, my first task is to find out where the toilets are.
 
It's always nice to feel helpful and if the duty is uneventful then breaking up the monotony with a quick chat can be rather pleasant.
 
This was far from being the case at I recent event I attended – the filming of BBC2’s Flog It! in the stunning Wells Cathedral.  An American tourist came in to look round and gradually made her way to the ‘in memory’ candles next to where I was standing.  Not being able to find a taper to light her candle, I suggested she might find one at the back of the cathedral where more candles were located.  I thought my suggestion was helpful but I was swiftly proved wrong by being reprimanded for "just not being good enough!"  She then proceeded to lecture me on how disgraceful it was that the BBC were in the cathedral as their presence added a short detour to her journey to the back of the building.  Clearly circumnavigating a few tables and chairs is complicated for some people, or perhaps it was the increased journey length that upset her.  Either way she was not happy, and it was made very apparent that I was at fault.
 
The bag I was carrying labelled 'first aid', or the jacket I was wearing labelled 'St John Ambulance' were clearly not sufficient to identify me as having nothing to do with the candles.  As far as this lady was concerned, the fact was that I was in uniform meant I must be in overall charge of the cathedral.  Probably the BBC too for that matter.
 
I find it quite fascinating how people react to uniforms and the 'official' status they assume that person to have.  I wouldn’t for one moment suggest they look up to people in uniform, but there is a definite awareness of their presence, an assumption of some kind of secret knowledge, and with that comes a degree of expectation.  When in a sports stadium, it is expected that anyone in uniform will know where stand X, row Y, seat Z is.  At a festival they are expected to know where the burger vans are and the relative merits of each one.  And as I mentioned earlier, anyone in uniform will always, always be expected to know where the toilets are.  It is a position of responsibility the wearer must live up to, or they will suffer the consequence – the dreaded frown.
 
Being in uniform and being visible also means you are likely to be under constant scrutiny.  Your every action and the way you behave will be observed at all times, and every flaw will be noted.  Every flaw may be noted but that does not mean all the good you do will be noticed – bad news travels with the speed of sound, good news tends to stay in a sound proof box.  It’s something to keep in mind the next time you're on duty though.  Even if it's a quiet day and you think you're sitting inconspicuously at the back, think again!  You're probably being watched, so act like you're being watched.
 
Also find out where the toilets are, take a candle taper with you and if you are in a cathedral, perhaps a minister's dog collar.  Just in case not being able deliver communion "just isn't good enough!"