All The Crew are given military-style uniforms. Lower ranks wear peaked caps, white shirts, black or grey trousers, jackets, tie, and double- breasted overcoats. Officers' outfits can be more elaborate with gold epaulettes, campaign ribbons, braiding, and stitching. They talk in jargon. Scientology has its own language which is incomprehensible to outsiders.
Staff can end up having little or no life of their own.
One former Scientologist, who spent part of his time working in a bookstall in the castle, told the Argus his weekly allowance over two years ranged from 7.50 to 15. Peter Mansell, director of public affairs at Saint Hill, said the average weekly wage was about 30 but some staff were on less. The biggest is Stonelands, a ramshackle country mansion in nearby West Hoathly. Staff are bussed to Saint Hill each day. Nearly 200 people were listed as living at Stonelands on September 18 last year, including at least 24 children sleeping in dormitories separate to their parents.