But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. We were first alerted to it by the noise from the fire engines.Looking out the window of the boarding house we saw the flames. But things got a little more decadent when you ventured underground. "Good crispy duck and great main dishes.". William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. [11], One survivor wrote about her experiences from the fire in a book entitled Made in Summerland, which was published in July 2018.[12]. The ghost walk at Castle Rushen is said to be one of the best on the island and can be booked here. There was no attempt to evacuate the 3,000 people present[5] until the visible evidence of the flames prompted a panic-stricken mass rush for the exits. I've got used to passing the site & it not being there but from the boat, going in either direction it's still not the same. BBC Isle of Man, Broadcasting House, Douglas Head, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1SW, I was 16 at the time of the fire, like many teeagers in Douglas we spent most of our evenings and many a wet day at Summerland.We could occasionally get served in the bars and if not we roller skated on the big rink downstairs.The night of the fire we had left Summerland to go to the stock cars at Onchan stadium, we got as far as the Catholic church in Oncan park when we saw a thin column of black smoke and people began to gather at the cliff top overlooking the site.We ran across the golf course watching the smoke grow, by the time we reached the cliff, half of the seaward wall of Summerland was blazing with a thick sheet of jet black smoke rising hundreds of feet.From our viewpoint we watched the fire spread over the huge oroglas canopy and saw thousands of people pouring out of the doors.When the events of 9/11 were shown on tv it reminded me of Douglas prom that night, teeming with shocked people and emergency vehicles flying up and down.We ended up in the Granada hotel trying to phone our parents to tell them we were ok but the phones were busy.The next morning the whole town stank of burnt plastic and vans instead of ambulannces ferried the dead to a makeshift mortuary.I didn't loose anyone and I dont have nightmares, but it was a dark part of my childhood and a memory that is still often in my thoughts. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. On August 2, 1973, at about 20.00, a fire in a kiosk close to Summerland, Isle of Man, started a conflagration and caused the death of 50 people. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. Game & Entertainment Centers. Jade Harbour Restaurant. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.On the 2nd of August, 1973, a fire broke out in . is now owned and operated by the Department of Tourism and Leisure. Locations. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. The concept was so radical that architect Geoffrey Ellis came to the Island to work for Mr I would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). on arrival above somerland we couldnt beleve the whole building was an infurno (just where we would have been had we not been delayed)we left the site not beleving such a tragity could be hapening to those poor people,and by the grace of god spared us.with the passing of time and no disrespect to those who loved ones perished or were injured i beleve that summerland was a fabulous venue of the time and should be under another name be reserected for the people of the island and visitors alike,the past is the past and nothing can remain a stain of the building/archetects or goverment who built it in good faith and by unforcene events that happend.the island needs a new complex to invest in tourisem and for the island people to enjoy in these hard days ahead bring life back to the island as it was before the doom and gloom merchants moved in.being a stopover from the late 60s and with three children who were born here i personaly would like to see an indoor complex such as summerland revived. of 1971. NOTHING! Find it on the Isle of Man | Business, Restaurants, Classifieds, Events and more To access your webmail, click Sign In Find it on the Isle of Man Click here to sign into webmail What's On? The venue attracted thousands of people to the. The island was cut off from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC as sea levels rose following the end of the ice age. This was on the 2nd floor. [14] No specific individuals or groups were blamed and the deaths were attributed to misadventure, although the delay in evacuation and the flammable building materials were condemned. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. We would spend alot of time up there because of the pool and because they could keep and eye on us and have a drink at the same time. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. In The Summerland Story written by Robert Kelly he promotes the centre as a holiday town where it never rains, the wind never blows and the temperature never gets chilly. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. I was 9 at the time of the Summerland fire and on holiday with my Mum and Dad staying at the Granada Hotel as we always did then. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. Lots of wildlife viewing!! The island has been visited by various raiders and trading peoples over the years. on the night of the summerland fire,my wife and mother and father inlaw (in there late seventies) plus myself with a wife who was expecting a child,were due to have a drink in the top bar as a fairwell to there holls before returning to liverpool next day, due to a strange event my wife hair rollers broke down so delaying by half an hour our departure.we stoped at the laxey filling station only to be told the complex was on fire!! I went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. We went back when they rebuilt it but it didn't have the same atmosphere & at first people almost seemed to be looking over their shoulders as if they were waiting for something to happen, it was strange. At the time Summerland was one of the most. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. While many escaped the inferno unharmed, the incident claimed 50 lives and seriously injured 80. Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. xx. Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. When we noticed the black smoke to one end of the building - and the crowds looking in that direction - we started to move towards the exit. 4. vs damage to building. The survivor and her mother were separated from her father and sister and stuck in the venue before being rescued through a window by firemen. Its charred steel skeletal remains were demolished in 1975 and then rebuilt on a smaller scale, construction commencing in 1976, with a smaller area of glass than the original, and a highly advanced fire extinguisher and alarm system. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. My parents had gone for a drink and I was looking after myself on my own in the safety that was 1973 in the fantastic Isle of Man. Summerland for me, like many others who grew up on the Island was one of the main places that you could find entertainment of all forms from Rollerskating through to catching a afternoon film in the cinema. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. Situated only a few minutes walk to the beach, harbour, shops and public transport. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. I remember seeing below us musicians from the group who had been on stage swimming across the learner pool, one of them with his guitar. sammy hamiltonI worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. Phase II But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. Gallery Click to Enlarge. A period semi-detached double fronted town house built circa 1864, set along a quiet cul-de-sac, yet within easy walking distance of the shops and cafes of Parliament Street. Catherine WoodhouseI was 9 and on holiday with my Mum, brother and Uncle Peter (Mum's brother), the aim of the holiday being to give Mum a break after my Dad had died following a long illness. STORY. [11] Around 80 people were seriously injured in the resulting crush and fire and received physical and mental scars. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. His solution was to design an artificial centre of sunshine and it had to be spectacular enough to compete with the growing threat of cheap foreign holidays. "Services weren't equipped for Summerland disaster", "Article about the disaster based on the report by Dr Ian Philips", "Remembering the Summerland fire disaster, 40 years on", "Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster", "Remembering The Summerland Disaster 40 Years On", "Asbestos information centretrade names", "Summerland fire survivor: 'I don't blame dad for saving my sister and leaving me in blaze but I never got to tell him', "Summerland fire: Fifty victims remembered on anniversary", "Summerland disaster survivor: 'I still dream of people in flames', "THE SUMMERLAND SITE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY", "Summerland fire memorial built to mark 40th anniversary", "Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary", 1972 amateur film of pre-disaster Summerland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Summerland_disaster&oldid=1142829611, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 16:12. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. You were certainly spoilt for choice - you could go swimming in 2 lovely new pools, rollerskate or play a multitude of sports in the massive sports hall, moonwalk in a big white type of enclosed bouncy castle (which like everything in there had a distinctive new smell). Tehachapi, CA, US. 'We are keenly aware that the Castle Mona is a key heritage asset for the Isle of Man and extremely mindful of the great interest that the Manx public have in the property. A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. Siobhan McHaleWe had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. Summerland was a high tech leisure centre that was built in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and opened in 1971. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. I've got used to passing the site & it not being there but from the boat, going in either direction it's still not the same. Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. I was 9 and on holiday with my Mum, brother and Uncle Peter (Mum's brother), the aim of the holiday being to give Mum a break after my Dad had died following a long illness. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. They were each fined 3 (equal to 31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs. I had a great time. The water in the pool was lovely and hot and we used to go out and stand in a cold shower and the cold foot bath then dive into the pool to get that even warmer feeling. The Summerland leisure complex in the Isle of Man, a popular tourist destination for many years, closed its doors for the last time in 2018. Experts searching the wreckage. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. The plans took years to finalise. jilliani loved summerland it was amazing the play area and the skating the swim baths and all shame the way things went, WAYNE FORDHI, I PLAYED THE SUMMERLAND DISCO WITH MY BAND 'ROCOCO' THE YEAR BEFORE THE FIRE,I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO REMEMBERS 'ROCOCO' I HAVE SOME VERY FOND MEMORIES OF MY TIME THERE, I HAVE VISITED THE ISLAND ONCE SINCE THEN,QUITE BY CHANCE IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE THE DEMOLITION TOOK PLACE,BUT I SUPPOSE I COULD SAY GOODBYE. The Majestic. Meanwhile a group of three school boys on holiday from Liverpool was hanging around at the back of the building next to a section of a dismantled fibre-glass kiosk. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. The latter idea was eventually scrapped when it was discovered some of the birds were poisoning themselves by eating the plastic foliage. Bid today! At 8:00 p.m. on 2 August 1973, Summerland, a leisure centre on the Isle of Man as shown in Figure 1, was seen to be on fire. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. Numerous firms are employing truck drivers in different locations of Canada like Alberta, Ontario, Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Quebec, Ottawa, Calgary, and also great deals of extra. One survivor (who was a child at the time) remembered her father noticing smoke coming from the ventilation shaft and had started to attempt to evacuate when the whole area erupted in flames. It wasn't until we were on the promenade at a safe distance that I looked back to see the building completely engulfed in flames. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. There were two phases in the building My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. Property reference . We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. I would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). The west wall remains intact as there is concern that its removal may cause the adjacent cliff to collapse. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. I was 5 at the time. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey, IM8 for 420,000. I was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. Ladies Location: Douglas - The Nunnery estate Type: Haunting Manifestation Date / Time: Unknown When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. What a great place. This button displays the currently selected search type. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. NOTHING! David ButteryI was 16 at the time of the fire, like many teeagers in Douglas we spent most of our evenings and many a wet day at Summerland.We could occasionally get served in the bars and if not we roller skated on the big rink downstairs.The night of the fire we had left Summerland to go to the stock cars at Onchan stadium, we got as far as the Catholic church in Oncan park when we saw a thin column of black smoke and people began to gather at the cliff top overlooking the site.We ran across the golf course watching the smoke grow, by the time we reached the cliff, half of the seaward wall of Summerland was blazing with a thick sheet of jet black smoke rising hundreds of feet.From our viewpoint we watched the fire spread over the huge oroglas canopy and saw thousands of people pouring out of the doors.When the events of 9/11 were shown on tv it reminded me of Douglas prom that night, teeming with shocked people and emergency vehicles flying up and down.We ended up in the Granada hotel trying to phone our parents to tell them we were ok but the phones were busy.The next morning the whole town stank of burnt plastic and vans instead of ambulannces ferried the dead to a makeshift mortuary.I didn't loose anyone and I dont have nightmares, but it was a dark part of my childhood and a memory that is still often in my thoughts. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. A report commissioned by the Lieutenant Governor in 1973 stated that the blaze was the worst peacetime fire disaster in the British Isles since 1929. last updated: 04/04/2008 at 15:38created: 03/04/2008. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. The venue was designed to hold 10,000 people in five floors and included swimming. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world and its state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map. A couple of the girls had been at the afternoon disco but were on their way back to the digs when the fire must have taken hold. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. Facts About Isle of Man: Places to Visit in Isle of Man Location Map of UK Cities Where is Aberdeen Where is Basildon Where is Basingstoke Where is Bath Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. The building's exterior and the interior were designed by two different architectsthey did not coordinate their planning with each other and thereby created a venue with significant fire risks that were to become apparent only later. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. Two years after its completion in 1971 the high tech promenade venue was the scene of devastation after a fire ripped through the building killing 50 people. Now it's completely gone & it is a shame but they will hopefully put something back there for the manx & visitors to enjoy & make their amemories last a lifetime too. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. To experience Summerland at that time was special and afterall, what has the Government ever done since to improve our quality of life here in the IOM. I was 13 when summerland went on fire i still remember that night clearly my mum and i had told my dad that we were going to summerland while he went to the villa marine to watch wrestling but just before the bus stopped we changed our mind and went to white city we had just got into white city when we were told summerland was on fire we had to walk all the way round onchan to get back to the prom its a scene you will never forget seeing people jumping into the sea to get away from the flames even when we came home on the boat your were reminded again as we had to wait until all the coffins were taken of first as a mark of respect. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. When we finally reached the bottom the firemen were there to guide us out and just as we got outside, the whole place was engulfed by fire. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. LOCATION From the Sea Terminal proceed the length of the Promenade. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. LizAlthough I remember when the fire happened (as a relative was working there that evening and thankfully survived), my happy memories are also quite vivid as I used to go there many times, especially during school holidays. The fire exits - clear glass ones, all in a row - were locked which I guessed afterwards was to prevent people paying for access to one area and then going to the other as well. The water in the pool was lovely and hot and we used to go out and stand in a cold shower and the cold foot bath then dive into the pool to get that even warmer feeling. I've just seen that picture of the pool with the rows of spectator seats and it brought it all back to me.I remember the next year when the fire happened because we were packing for our holiday to Anglesea when the news broke. Map. OK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. Located in the heart of Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, the complex was a landmark of the island, offering a wide range of attractions for both locals and visitors alike. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. The fire was contained in an internal space within the walls until it penetrated the interior, destroying the wiring of the fire alarm system in the process. The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. We were first alerted to it by the noise from the fire engines.Looking out the window of the boarding house we saw the flames. A survivor of the devastating Summerland fire on the Isle of Man which killed 50 people, including 15 from Merseyside and Cheshire, has made an emotional appeal for the three Liverpool friends who . We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. I was 12 that year. [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. Location Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland Geographic coordinates 54 15 N, 4 30 W Map references Europe Area total: 572 sq km land: 572 sq km water: 0 sq km country comparison to the world: 193 Area - comparative slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries total: 0 km Coastline Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. Summerland was such a great place to hang out and I would guess that most of the Isle of Man population that was around at the time of the fire is still in shock. 30 Mar 2023 - 05 Apr 2023 +. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. We saw the fire take hold and like many others my parents were shocked and crying at the horror of the tragic loss of life. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. On the evening of Thursday 2nd August 1973 an estimated 3,000 people were enjoying themselves at the resort. My dad played a lot of squash so I was always there watching him, well trying.. it took me years to be tall enough to see over from the spectators gallery properly.Every weekend it would either be rollerskating, swimming or the play area in the day and at night we would come back for the cabaret and more time in the play area.Through the week I would be in Summerland for 5-a-side football and swimming lessons with my school.For years I knew nothing about the fire but was told by my parents at a sensible age, from this moment on I wanted to know what the place looked like as their description made it sound out of this world and it was!I have spent many an hour researching everything Summerland.I have to admit I did feel very sad when I saw this place coming down.A newer more aesthetically pleasing version needs to be built, we need a more resourceful entertainment complex on the Island, everthing under one roof.. like Summerland! The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world and its state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map. My Mum persuaded me not to stay any longer in the childrens' play area in the basement, so we returned to the gallery area overlooking the stage/dancefloor to join my brother and uncle. . My Mum and I started to go towards a spiral staircase which led towards the main entrance but my uncle steered us further along the gallery to where there were fire exits leading to the swimming pool area. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation.
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