- Contributed by听
- culture_durham
- People in story:听
- Mrs Monica Flook
- Location of story:听
- Leceister
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4149605
- Contributed on:听
- 03 June 2005
1st Air Raid Siren in Leicester
When I left College and started in my first teaching post, I had to register for helping the war effort in some way or other 鈥 Air Raid Warden 鈥 telephonist at an ARP post 鈥 fire watching. I fire-watched at my school one night each week. I also joined the ARP service as a telephonist, to report to the Centre nearest my home when the warning sounded, to record reports for duty from outlying posts, and be ready to take reports of any bomb damage. The first warning siren in my home town caused great consternation 鈥 wardens and fire watchers rushing to report on duty; wanting to show how conscientious they were; wanting to be first there; head wardens counting in their minions and trying not to be too officious. Mr S, a strong and healthy 50 year old, was last to arrive, he hobbled painfully in, 鈥淐an鈥檛 think what鈥檚 happened! I can hardly walk, but came as quickly as I could.鈥
鈥淕lad you got here Mr S, why won鈥檛 your legs do their usual work?鈥 Mr S went into the toilet, and after a few minutes came out not knowing whether to laugh or look embarrassed. 鈥淚鈥檇 got both legs in one leg of my underpants, I dressed in such a hurry!鈥 He did join in the laughter, but never lived it down.
And it was a false alarm after all!
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