Air Raid Sirens

From BBC News: Quote: "Organisers of commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz are debating whether to sound an air raid siren to mark the bombings." FULL STORY Personally I think it should be sounded twice, once at the exact time when the raid first began and then again a few hours later to coincide with the sounding of the all clear signal.

I think they should do it. Mind you there are few people who wouldn't like to be reminded of it. My late mother, who lived through all the Coventry air-raids, always said that it upset her whenever the sound of a siren was played on the TV or radio.

I think this one could be a tough call as to whether or not it will happen. Personally I'd love to hear the siren as it would be of historical interest. However, my mum was only two or three years old when the sirens last sounded for real, and as one of her very first memories, coupled with the recollection of panic and being bundled under a Morrison Shelter, it brings back a feeling of terror, even when she hears that sound on the telly nowadays. I'm sure that many folk who are 70+ will also dread hearing that noise. Glad I'm not the one making the decision!

I think it would be an excellent idea for sirens to be sounded across the whole of Coventry but I doubt there would be enough to enable them to be heard everywhere, as they were for the real thing. A single siren cannot replicate the total fear that sound brought. For real effect the city would be plunged into total darkness at the same time which obviously could not happen (elf & safety). In all seriousness, I am glad that I would not be there as I know it would have a profound effect on me. Alan.

Alan - how many sirens would there have been across Coventry, do you know?

Sorry, I have no idea how many there were but all the bigger factories had their own, plus the fire stations and some police stations. When a raid started you would hear first one, then others would join in right across the city.

I worked in Coventry for the 50th commemoration and they sounded the sirens (well ok they played a recorded version over tannoys) then I recall looking over town from Spencer Park with replica searchlights shining up into the sky and it really gave an eerie sensation. Must have been terrifying.

Update: "Air raid siren to be heard at Coventry Cathedral event"

Hello all. I was just reading some old posts when I came across one about the air raid siren being sounded to commemorate 75 years of the blitz. Did it happen for 50 years? I remember all prices in town came down to 1940s prices that night and as a youngster I went swimming for 5p (pretty sure of that). Anyway, I seem to remember an incident of a siren going off sometime during the early 90s on a sunday morning as I was setting up goalnets on Whitley common with my dad. Does anybody else remember this or did I dream it? If so, why did it go off? Thanks Mods note: Threads merged

Kev180, There was mistaken nuclear alert leaves residents 'hysterical' in February 1984, but I moved to Coventry in August 1984 and I remember reading about another false alarm after that, Peter.

See my post No.7 Kev - yes they were for the 50th. I wonder if the nuclear sirens are still in place and if so - where are they? (not that I want to hear them!)

I think I would shake, and probably cry, the last time I heard a siren I got quite distressed and embarrassed.

A supporter of my home football team used to have a portable wind-up air raid siren that he would set off if we won a corner or scored. Those things were loud! I think it was eventually banned as an offensive weapon.