Sound of sirens

A Tameside resident will be sounding the “all clear” siren to bring in the New Year.

Droylsden local Raymond Fricker is known for his war memorabilia collection, of which we were privileged enough to visit a couple of months ago to take a glimpse at many items that helped to write our history. 

Now Ray will be using one of his most prized possessions - his fully functional air raid siren - to mark the start of the new year.

Now, one question that arose about this was how will people know that the siren is not a real warning. Ray was on hand to explain this, saying “air raid sirens have not been used since the nineties, and are all decommissioned. This one I have got permission to sound from the authorities to bring in the new year. Nowadays if there was any invasion of sorts it would be broadcast to everyone’s phone with a warning.”

This is not the first time Ray has sounded his siren, as he has attained permission previously to sound the siren on other occasions. Linked below is a video showing how the siren sounds.
 

The sirens like Rays’ were produced to be heard easily by many residents from miles around, and as Ray said “last time we sounded it we had people from far out of Droylesden hearing it sound.” 
 

Listen below to hear the siren and make sure to keep an ear peeled at midnight on New Years Eve to hear this amazing piece of history!