NEIGHBORS living next door to a Second World War enthusiast say his air raid siren is “so loud” it sends “shivers down their spine”.
Ray Fricker, 67, spent 14 years accumulating around 900 pieces that now line the rooms and walls of his dining room in his three-bedroom house built in 1901 in Droylsden, Greater Manchester.
8
8
The collection that makes up its dedicated “war room” includes sculptures from prisoner of war camps and letters from soldiers.
He also has an unexploded bomb, machine guns and gas masks.
“I have a shell that fell on the British side in the First World War when they were fighting,” he told Manchester Evening News.
“He went straight to the dugout and never exploded.”
One of its most prized possessions is its authentic World War II air raid siren, which is said to have told residents to run for cover as Nazi bombers flew over Britain.
And those who live on the beautiful, quiet 125-year-old cul-de-sac said Ray’s siren can be heard “a few miles away.”
Father-of-two Tom Hunter, 59, a retired senior airman who served in the RAF for 15 years, told The Sun: “You can hear it and feel it.
“It went off on June 6 for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but it usually only happens twice a year – on VE Day and New Year’s Eve.”
John Young, 73, spent 15 years in the army, which included three tours of Northern Ireland with the Black Watch.
The father-of-two said: “It sounds great on VE day and we’re really happy about it.
“Nobody ever complains about it. Normally you look at the story through your eyes, but when the siren goes off, you are using your ears.
“There are many people who have never heard sounds like this. This adds authenticity to the occasion.
“The first time I heard it, because it’s so loud, a shiver ran down my spine.
“When this happened in World War II, people ran for cover in bunkers.
Sound the warning
Air raid sirens became a daily part of life in London during the height of the Blitz.
They were first probed in the capital in September 1939.
When people heard air raid sirens, they sought shelter.
These were often Anderson shelters built in corrugated iron gardens or Morrison shelters built indoors.
Many people also crowded tube stations in London
Daily life would continue inside the larger shelters.
“Then suddenly you’re transplanted, 80 years ago, to the way people panicked and ran to shelters.”
John’s wife, retired French teacher Marguerite Young, 73, said of the siren: “You can certainly hear it.
“The last time Ray did this, we were coming back from the main road and there was a lady panicking.
“I said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s just our neighbor.’ It was really noisy.
“I think when they first dropped it they could hear it in the middle of Droylsden, a few miles away.
“But I suppose in wartime, when that happened, the sound would travel further as there wouldn’t be as much traffic noise.”
Grandad-of-two Terry Goodwin, 65, who lives a few doors down from Ray, said: “It happens a few times a year but it doesn’t affect anything.
“My friends on the other side of Droylsden text me saying ‘Why is a siren going?’ But he only does this on big birthdays.
“This area is like a living museum and it’s a community – everyone knows everyone. So it’s probably in the right kind of environment.”
8
8
8
8
8
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
