Sirens

Axeman · Post by **Axeman** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:59 pm

My wife can't remember this or it didn't happen in her area, but I can remember the testing of the sirens when I was at Horsley Hill Juniors.

Warning and all clear.

It was done once or twice a year. I think a main one was at the Territorial fort .

When did it stop...did it ever happen ???

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:05 pm

It happened Axeman but I'm not sure when it stopped, probably in the fifties because I was working when I last heard them.
One was on the top of the "Savoy" cinema and there were one or two others around.
It was a sound which always turned me cold. I remember them from during the war and in later years when they sounded them, unpleasant memories came with the sound.

Axeman · Post by **Axeman** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:09 pm

Must of been later than the 50's I was born in 56 so must of been in the 60's sometime ?

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:11 pm

You are probably right, as I left Shields in the early 60s.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:15 pm

In the boys cloakroom at Thornholme Infants, high up in a corner was a big lever which started the Air Raid siren, we used to climb up and set it off and run.

Axeman · Post by **Axeman** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:48 pm

AH so it wasn't a test !

It was YOU.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:29 pm

But it was a bit before the time you were talking about Axeman, I was at Thornholme Infants from 1953 to 1955.

Delilahcat · Post by **Delilahcat** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:18 pm

Pilot you would get an ASBO for doing stuff like that now.
I can remember hearing sirens later than the fifties.

gazza · Post by **gazza** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:20 pm

there`s a siren often gets in here........

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:20 pm

Pilot wrote:But it was a bit before the time you were talking about Axeman, I was at Thornholme Infants from 1953 to 1955.

Gawd! Pilot I was a working man before you started the infants.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:43 pm

Huh, bet my Dad was smaller than your dad, baldy, or is it bigger.

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:50 pm

Well my dad was 5'5"

Which is considerably taller than me.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:58 pm

Bloomin heck, mine was 5ft 6in, but I'm 6ft 2in, how on Earth did he give birth to me, just a minute I may be getting confused.

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:01 pm

I was a big baby, about 9lbs

Come to think of it, I still am (a big baby, that is)

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:07 pm

Huh, I was a big baby too, but I grew out of it by the time I was 15.

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:18 pm

Isn't life funny Pilot?

We start our life having to wear nappies

And when we get old; we have to start all over again

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:25 pm

Was that you behind me at the XXXL nappy counter in boots?

They weren't for me!!!! honest

baldy.smith · Post by **baldy.smith** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:28 pm

I have to wear mine back to front, cos I need more room at the front than the back.

What's all this got to do with "Sirens" get back on course Pilot.

Pilot · Post by **Pilot** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:30 pm

Ooops sorry, left hand down a bit steady as she goes.

curly · Post by **curly** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:02 am

I'm sure they test them every five or ten years, there's one at the bus depot.