Chain of Command at Maplins

[RSteve]

No new posts on here for ages so I thought I'd get some debates going.

Does it strike anyone how confused the chain of command was at Maplins? I always feel sorry for Gladys - she's Chief Yellowcoat, and definitely in charge of the six yellowcoats (the three girls and three lads) although she is often overruled by Jeffrey, who tended to be softer on them, or Clive, who let them do what they wanted - so she often has her authority undermined even with them. She only seems to have true power over poor Peggy, threatening her with the ever-fearsome Miss Cathcart (we never meet Miss Cathcart, which seems a real shame!)

However, the other yellowcoats who have specific roles in addition to being yellowcoats, are less definite - she sometimes tries to boss them around and sometimes succeeds, but as we see in the "Stripes" episode, a yellowcoat with another role certainly doesn't see themself as subject to Gladys.

I think the trouble is the definition of a "yellowcoat" - when Yvonne wants to enter the Most Popular Girl Yellowcoat competition, Barry says in surprise "but you're not a yellowcoat dear!" to which she replies "I'm wearing one now" - basically if you had another role (Fred Quilley riding instructor, Yvonne and Barry Ballroom Dancers, etc. etc) then in effect you were a sort of part-time yellowcoat - Barry and Yvonne had to be yellowcoats during the day, but dancers in the evening.

Indeed in "Stripes" again, when Mr. Partridge asks Fred how many yellowcoats Gladys is in charge of, he says "six" - obviously not including himself or Barry etc.

So it's hard for Gladys to know what's what! I wouldn't envy her that role.

[Cjm]

Well obviously Jeffrey was in charge but I'm not actually sure whether Gladys was officially chief yellowcoat or whether she took on that position herself. She also mentions sports organiser so I have a sneaky feeling she decied to 'take charge' herself. But you're right in that she bosses the girls around namely Sylvia and Betty etc, but not the likes of Barry, Yvonne and Fred who yes seem to be a yellowcoat when it suits the writers. And yes Jeffrey does overule Gladys probably because she tends to pick on the other staff, yet he feels he can listen more to the likes of Ted and Spike.

[*dcuk*]

I don't believe Gladys holds any authority over the likes of Spike, Yvonne & Barry, Fred etc. However she does assume this role particularly as Jeffrey fondly refers to her as his "Right-Hand Man!" So I agree with RSteve that there's a difference between actual Yellowcoats and the rest of the Entertainments Staff who wear one from time to time. (Don't forget Ted is meant to wear a Yellowcoat as well and this is referred to somewhere in the first series, 'No Dogs Allowed' I think.)

Here's a bit of detail from episodes that could help distinguish the Chain of Command:

Gladys is Sports Organiser from the start of the series but is appointed "Chief Yellowcoat" in the episode 'Stripes'.

There is an Entertainments Director (Mr Glover) who is mentioned, and appears in, 'Co-Respondent's Course'. I guess the various Entertainments Managers from the Camps report to him.

An overall 'Controller of Yellowcoats' is brought in for the episode 'All Change' who Gladys has to report to.

In the episode 'Pigs Might Fly' a Camp Controller is appointed (Alec Foster) to oversee the Camp, and again the Entertainments Manager has to report to him.

[billy]

as was mentioned Gladys was appointed chief yellowcoat after an undercover visit from JM in stripes but even before then she appeared to be the self appointed no.2 after Geoff.
Ted is also called to the office on numerous occasions to help with decisions.
The "main" yellowcoats with distinct roles like camp comic , ballroom dancers ect are to me on the next level followed by the regular yellow coats , hate to think of Peggy at the bottom though with such a vast imput into the camp!