For generations, the rattle of milk bottles was a familiar sound as milkmen delivered to most doorsteps in the city. Those milkmen included Ernest Sheldon, pictured, who delivered in Wincobank and is pictured in 1983. Although a few still have milk delivered in bottles, it is now less usual, and the noise of the bottles in their carriers as the milkman does his morning rounds is now rarely heard. Similarly, the sound of their electric milkfloats has pretty much disappeared.placeholder image
For generations, the rattle of milk bottles was a familiar sound as milkmen delivered to most doorsteps in the city. Those milkmen included Ernest Sheldon, pictured, who delivered in Wincobank and is pictured in 1983. Although a few still have milk delivered in bottles, it is now less usual, and the noise of the bottles in their carriers as the milkman does his morning rounds is now rarely heard. Similarly, the sound of their electric milkfloats has pretty much disappeared. | ©Sheffield Newspapers Ltd

These 10 memorable sounds, heard all the time in 70s, 80s and 90s Sheffield, are now lost or all but lost

David Kessen
By David Kessen

Senior reporter

Published 12th Jul 2025, 06:00 GMT
Updated 13th Jul 2025, 11:51 GMT

There are loads of things which look different about Sheffield now, compared to how it was 30 odd years ago.

But there also also many things that sound different when you listen.

Take the sounds of early morning on your street for instance.

Back in the 70s, at some point early in the day, the chances are you heard the rattle of milkbottles, and then the hum of the electric milk float as your milkman dropped delivered to your doorstep, before slowly driving off to his next stop along the street.

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Things like this were heard everywhere in the city in those days. But nowadays? They are seldom, if ever, heard.

Our gallery brings back memories of 10 sounds like this that you will likely remember from Sheffield in the past, which you no longer hear.

Take a look and see how many you recall.

Back in the 1970s and 80s, Sheffield's police cars used to have a very different siren, with a 'nee naw' sound, rather than the wailing noise that they have now. The picture shows a police car in Sheffield in 1981

9. 'Nee naw' police car sirens

Back in the 1970s and 80s, Sheffield's police cars used to have a very different siren, with a 'nee naw' sound, rather than the wailing noise that they have now. The picture shows a police car in Sheffield in 1981 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers

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'Anyone for Darnall? Wincobank?' So we would hear as passengers on the crackly radio back in the days of radio controlled taxi cabs, as drivers were told of bookings that were waiting to be picked up across the city back in the 80s and 90s. This is another sound that has vanished from the city, replaced by computer apps. Photo: Mike Waistell, Sheffield Newspapers

10. Taxi radios

'Anyone for Darnall? Wincobank?' So we would hear as passengers on the crackly radio back in the days of radio controlled taxi cabs, as drivers were told of bookings that were waiting to be picked up across the city back in the 80s and 90s. This is another sound that has vanished from the city, replaced by computer apps. Photo: Mike Waistell, Sheffield Newspapers | Sheffield Newspapers Ltd Photo: Mike Waistell

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