Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2024 January 27

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January 27

Air-raid siren in 1983

I was telling a story yesterday: on my way home one autumn afternoon from primary school, in Letchworth in England in the early 1980s, the air-raid siren went off, terrifyingly. And though of course we didn't die four minutes later as we'd expected, we never heard an explanation.

Someone listening pointed out that this coincides neatly with Able Archer 83. Now I'm curious. I understand how jumpy the government was at the time, but surely there'd be some record of an accidental warning?

I thought it might have been mentioned in the local paper (the Comet) next week, but the archives aren't online.

Where would you look? Marnanel (talk) 03:33, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

@Marnanel: I think checking a local paper is a good idea. Often, libraries will have microfilm archives of old newspapers if it is not online. If you are not in the area anymore, someone at WP:RX might have access. RudolfRed (talk) 05:06, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

In London, probably until the Thames Barrier was completed in 1982, the sirens were to be used to warn of flooding; in order to ensure they were ready, every so often they sounded the 'All Clear' (single rise of pitch followed by a long fall). We were about 100 yards from the nearest one and, yes, terrifying for a kid. Was Letchworth in danger of flooding? And did you hear the 'All Clear', or the 'Warning' (repeated rise and fall of pitch)? -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 20:26, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

I remember the occasional UK civil defence siren test in the 80s. DuncanHill (talk) 22:51, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

I found this article which suggests you may have heard the fire alarm at Fairfield Hospital, Bedfordshire. DuncanHill (talk) 22:56, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

Possibly not in this case, but MoD sites and military bases may use a siren as a lockdown/incident warning. It will need testing at a notified time. Martin of Sheffield (talk) 15:29, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

Our article Civil defense siren#United Kingdom says:

At the end of the Cold War in 1992, the siren network was decommissioned, and very few remain... Around 1,200 sirens remain, mostly used to warn the public of severe flooding... Most of them usually tested annually between August and September...

So in 1983, the civil defence air-raid warning system was still very much in place, so you may have heard a test. More information at British Nuclear Warning System. Alansplodge (talk) 11:32, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

Left-wing and women of colour around the world

Besides Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of the United States and Zarah Sultana and Apsana Begum of UK, are there any other politicians who are left-wing and women of colour who have been ridiculed by their colleagues in their own party and by the right for being not with the status quo and mainstream because of their stances and views? Donmust90 (talk) 17:23, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

Diane Abbott has been controversial at times. Alansplodge (talk) 11:40, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

Probably all of them? The current US VP, Kamala Harris, gets it pretty bad from both parties. The US Democrats are mostly a centrist party with a few left leaners (the ones you mentioned, plus Barbara Lee and a few others) and some right leaners. I guess Harris is near the center though (not sure). Tulsi Gabbard was further left (except for some particular issues) and she got it pretty bad when she was in office. Outside the US, I don't know. You should add Cori Bush to your "squad" list, and I think there are a couple more whose names don't come to mind. 2601:644:8501:AAF0:0:0:0:2034 (talk) 19:45, 30 January 2024 (UTC)