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. BBC - The Summerland building disaster - BBC News There are more than 2 filming locations on our site. This was on the 2nd floor. Reverse of the small poster is also in colour and lists all the many attractions.. Gallery Click to Enlarge. What a great place. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. Zoom in to cu of Summerland Complex and fire damage 2. vs fire damage 3. 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. the old building demolished. 8. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. I was at summerland in august 1973,and went to the groovey disco underneath,but it seemed a bit lacking in atmosphere compared to the clubs in Manchester.I was also in Douglas when Summerland set on fire and joined the long queue of people donating blood for the victims. i loved summerland it was amazing the play area and the skating the swim baths and all shame the way things went, HI, 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. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. belindaI went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. Original 1970s flyer in colour. When Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. We hadn't had decent swimming baths for a long time in Douglas and for that reason alone I couldn't wait to get in and have a look. Bit by bit over the years things would start to disappear, until by the end there was only "Manxland" left, my son really enjoyed palying there with all his cousins & it was a great place for Mums to meet on a Saturday & have a coffee while the kids played, we did that for a lot of years. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. The Summerland site is to go on sale after Manx government attempts to find a private development partner failed. Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. 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. The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the northern Irish Sea, Isle of Man to the east, Northern Ireland to the west, Scotland (closest) to the north and Republic of Ireland to the southwest. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LIGHTHOUSE DOUGLAS - ISLE OF MAN ( T30 ) at the best online prices at eBay! I remember winning a talent contest at Summerland when I was 6 years old.We went to the IOM every year for our summer holidays. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. Isle of Man Summerland Fire - DoYouRemember.co.uk forums 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? [17], In October 2002, torrential rain caused damage to several structures, as well as two landslides behind Summerland which dislodged two 50-tonne concrete blocks that had once supported the roof of the original building, but had not been removed in the wake of the fire. After a geotechnical team determined that the blocks could not be safely stabilised or removed, and that there was a risk they would fall into the buildings below, the site was scheduled for demolition. 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. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. Experts into wreckage of building 4. 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. I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. Feb 22, 2021 - Manx Electric Railway 26 a 1898 GF Milnes crossbench tram at Derby Castle terminus in Douglas about to push crossbench trailer 56 back to the depot past the rebuilt Summerland on 14 July 1978. 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. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. A Cafe. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. [19][20], On other anniversaries of the disaster many memorials take place, such as a memorial concert and a moment of silence at the location which is now a vacant site. Matteo Vinci on LinkedIn: BluVeinXL: aiming for benchmark status in the 7. vox pop older man re. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. 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. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Some photos of Summerland and the demolition (I'll post them in batches because uploading all at once seems to mess up the order) Quote Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Damn flood control Quote The Old Git Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man [18], Forty years after the tragedy, a permanent memorial in the form of three granite columns was unveiled at Kaye Memorial Gardens, at the bottom of Summer Hill. 7. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road, Onchan - Chrystals There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Isle of Man: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399644 at the best online prices at eBay! I survived that terrible disaster. THE 10 BEST Chinese Restaurants in Isle of Man (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor 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. dotty kiddI was 17 and was working there at the time of the fire, it was total panic, the fire spread so fast and no body could get out due to the doors being locked, I managed to get my friend away safely but with all the panic going on around I ended up in a daze, I dont know how I got out but remember someone pulling me, I got out befor the first explosion went off. What's On - Gaiety Theatre, Isle of Man Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. My uncle saw someone he knew from our home town (Widnes) whose hotel was closer than ours, and he was able to phone family at home to say we were OK just as the story was coming on the news.We were all OK, apart from my uncle's cracked ribs from charging at the fire door, but the horror of the evening is still with me such that even lighting a candle is something I struggle to do and I always check out fire exits when I'm somewhere new. Isle of Man: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph The world's first offshore oil wells, drilled from piers in 1896. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. The transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. Experts searching the wreckage. 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. I dont remember the initial Summerlands complex, but I was in Summerlands in the mid 80's; after it was rebuilt and reopened in 1978; I was therer on annual camp with the scouts, that was the year I joined the scouts and that was the reason i joined, the trip to the Isle of Man.What a great time I had there using the swimming pool. The decor made it look like a tropical fairyland in places with the waterfall which looked like it was tumbling into the building from where the cliff-face was at the rear of the building. 13 Spooky & Haunted places in the Isle of Man Lovely Greens We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. 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. 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. The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. The Majestic. 2017 Keystone Summerland 2980 BH for Sale in Carville LA jimmy kitchin onchanon 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!! 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. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. The Isle of Man [1] ( Manx: Ellan Vannin) is an island in the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition Haunted Isle of Man/THE TRAGIC SUMMERLAND FIRE, ISLE OF MAN Douglas Corporation, aided by grants from the Isle of Man Government, spent 1.5 million on the building and more cash was provided by The International Trust House Forte group who had taken Summerland LTD on as a subsidiary. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental Summerland: deadly lessons lost | RIBAJ I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. 5. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) Condition is excellent. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. Just then I distinctly remember seeing a small flicker of light at the base of the building on the West side thinking it was someone with a torch or something, as it was getting dusky. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. i remembr 1968-69 , I worked at White City on the Isle of Man , they were the eight best years of my life. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. [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 panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. Opened with much fanfare a little more than two years earlier on 25 May 1971, the 2m climate-controlled building boasted restaurants and bars, an indoor heated swimming pool, saunas, a children's theatre and an underground disco. While many escaped the inferno unharmed, the incident claimed 50 lives and seriously injured 80. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. Figure 2 shows where the fire initially started, and it spread quickly over the building faade. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. House prices in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 - Zoopla 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). Just then I distinctly remember seeing a small flicker of light at the base of the building on the West side thinking it was someone with a torch or something, as it was getting dusky. Manx Forums - A Discussion Board & Classifieds for the Isle of Man. While children were entertained in the theatre, parents could relax upstairs. JacquiI remember winning a talent contest at Summerland when I was 6 years old.We went to the IOM every year for our summer holidays. 30 Summerland isle of man ideas | summerland, isle of man, isle Having met with Mr Gawne MHK to discuss my proposal for a commemorative space prior to his unsuccessful re-election, then continued with Ray Harmer MHK the newly . We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) 4. vs damage to building. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. There were 7 floors in total and the building had a capacity for 5 thousand people. 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. 1. 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. 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. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) 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. We hadn't had decent swimming baths for a long time in Douglas and for that reason alone I couldn't wait to get in and have a look. The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. Overview. 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. Isle of Man - Wikitravel Demolition of the site from Oct 2005. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. [12] The fire brigade's provisional total of 51 deaths at the scene was subsequently revised down to 48, and two others died in hospital, one in Douglas on 11 August and the other in Scotland on 29 September; the latter is excluded from the Isle of Man coroner's list of 49 deaths. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. The queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. Isle of Man Government - Manx Development Corporation 34808 | VAT Registration Number: 001090349 Directors . Lomas wanted to create the illusion of being outside and to this end he planned to cover exposed cliff faces with tropical plants while allowing wild birds to live and fly throughout the building. Those were the days. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. The indoor Summerland leisure complex in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world and its facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. 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. Isle of Man community commemorate 49th anniversary of Summerland - ITVX The island is in desperate need of some alternative. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. In June of 1832, Cholera arrived on the Isle of Man. 8 ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, June 27, 2017 BUILDINGS AT RISK Heritage: A look at the Castle Mona Hotel s history S A newsdesk@iomtoday.co.im Twi er: @iomnewspapers The journey from the jewel in Douglas s crown to an eyesore A nyone who knows the song The Ugly Duck - ling will know that the bird in panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. It bears the names of those killed in the fire and is set into a circle of paving, alongside a stone laid earlier to mark the 25th anniversary. Find it on the Isle of Man | Business, Restaurants, Classifieds, Events Places - Lost in Time: Summerland Centre, Isle of Man - YouTube Hello, and welcome again to Places - Lost in Time, a series that looks back on the tale of places and locations that have. Summerland - filming locations - SCEEN 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. STORY. Phase II Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. On 17 September 1973, three Liverpool boys two of them 12 and the other 14 appeared before Douglas Juvenile Court and admitted wilfully and unlawfully damaging the lock of a plastic kiosk next to Summerland. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. [11] Around 80 people were seriously injured in the resulting crush and fire and received physical and mental scars. Andy, LiverpoolAs kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. '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. Seconds later the light grew to a flame a few feet high, then within no time at all there were large flames extending the whole height of the side of the building I was frozen in shock watching what was kicking off. Summerland , Douglas, Isle of Man. Original early 1970s Flyer. The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. Summerland - General Chat - Manx Forums - A Discussion Board 6. vox pops boys re. It was all shining, it even smelt new. Situated only a few minutes walk to the beach, harbour, shops and public transport. These proposals will necessitate significant investment but will enable us to rectify core issues that have compromised the integrity of the building in recent years, such . Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. The Summerland site is to be put on the market - BBC News I've not lived on the Island for 10 years, but I have the memories of the great times I had & will never forget Summerland, even know my time spent there was in the 90's, quite a long time following the 1973 Disaster. BBC - Isle of Man - History - Where the sun always shines It was all shining, it even smelt new. 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. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. County: . Flora Mcintyre i remembr 1968-69 , I worked at White City on the Isle of Man , they were the eight best years of my life. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! I was 7 and on holiday with family,that inluded aunts,uncles and cousins.A lot of us had been holdaying in Douglas that week and we spent a lot of time in Summerland.It was a great place to spend the day.It had all the ammenities ,everything you wanted was there,a funfare ,indoor heated swimming pool,indoor amusement arcade.It had bars,a disco's everything.On the night of the fire, we just finished our evening meal in our hotel and we began walking up Douglas promenade ,going towards Summerland,when we noticed smoke billowing up from behind the building,the next instant the entire building was engulfed in flames.I remember seeing people pouring out of the building,some were on fire,it was horrific.We were standing some distance away and I could not take my eyes off it.The explosions from the burning building boomed across Douglas bay.I had never seen so many injured people before and it is something that I wll never forget.The following morning we all cut our holiday short and returned home,as the ferry was leaving Douglas we all stood on the boat deck ,staring at the burnt out shell of Summerland.Have never been back to IOM since that terrible fire. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. Johnny, LaxeySummerland 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. I WILL RETURN AS THERE IS A KIND OF MAGIC ATTRACTION ABOUT THE ISLAND,I SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER 'THE GEM IN THE IRISH SEA' WAYNE FORD, Moonwalk,rollerskating & swimming, just 3 of the things that kept myself, my brother & cousins entertained for hours. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. Department of Community, Culture and Leisure announces future of Summerland site, Redevelopment of the Former Summerland Site - The Wave. Summerland Series: The Cave - Gef - Isle of Man 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. This, coupled with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, is what made this the worst night of my life. I made lots of friends both from the island and liverpool. Location. Location: Doolish; Share; Posted July 3, 2008. . Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. The fire spread to the wall's interior soundproofing material, which was highly combustible, causing an intense fire that ignited the flammable acrylic sheeting that covered the rest of the building. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey | ManxLiving Isle of Man Property I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves.
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