We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. [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. It was indeed quite glamorous and I know for a fact my mum and dad spent more than a few romantic evenings there, (We kids got packed off to our grandparents house!) 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. 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. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. 1. 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. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. NOTHING! janice gale from dreghorn scotlandI 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. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. [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. From Wonderful California, published 1915. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Condition is excellent. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. I went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. The centre reopened in June 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. 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. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. After another few minutes the flames had spread over the top of the building and were beginning to engulf the whole place, it was horrible to see. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 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. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. County: . 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. Reverse of the small poster is also in colour and lists all the many attractions.. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. Those were the days. 05 Apr 2023 - 16 Apr 2023. Situated only a few minutes walk to the beach, harbour, shops and public transport. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA (Good move as it happens - I understood later that about 12 people were found dead at the bottom of that staircase, which I seem to recall did not have proper handrails round it, being largely decorative.) LOCATION From the Sea Terminal proceed the length of the Promenade. 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!! 30 Mar 2023 - 05 Apr 2023 +. 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 . I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. 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. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. 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. On the night of the fire my Mum and Dad were taking me to see the Black & White minstrels, my much older brother and sister didn't want to go and went on the prom. The Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and For me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. I was 5 at the time. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. August ISLE of MAN "SUMMERLANDS DOUGLAS" DESTROYED BY FIRE 2nd AUGUST 1973 POSTED 1974 Street Cars Derby Vehicles Swiss Derby Castle before Summerland was demolished J Judith B summerland isle of man August 2013 My Heritage 40th Anniversary Birth Gem Sidewalk Memories Sharon BridsonI was 12 that year. They were each fined 3 (equal to 31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. Then with my children to manxland,their first birthday parties, my sisters-in-laws fashion shows & watching cousin's children do ballroom dancing & they're just a handfull of memories!Summerland was a one off & while the Villa Marina is a part of our islands history & heritage, there will never be another place like Summerland - it's in a league of it's own. 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 still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. Overview. It was all shining, it even smelt new. On the night of the fire my Mum and Dad were taking me to see the Black & White minstrels, my much older brother and sister didn't want to go and went on the prom. The transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. 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. I had a great time. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. Siobhan McHaleWe had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. NOTHING! The fire started at around 7:30p.m. on 2 August 1973 when approximately 3,000 people were inside,[5] and was caused by three boys who were smoking in a small disused kiosk,[6] on the centre's miniature golf course[7] and who told police it was likely started by a carelessly discarded match or stub. The state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. John McGimpseyI was 15,and in the fire, but I escaped by jumping around the bannisters which were jammed with people too frightened to move on the stairs which were on the same side as the balcony with the crazy golf where the fire was started.. STORY. It was the brain child of Douglas architect, Mr James Phillips Lomas who had been commissioned by Douglas Corporation to design a building which would attract visitors to the Isle of Man whatever the weather. 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. of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council A recent trip to Isle of Man brought back many happy memories but I was sad to see that not only had Summerlands closed but the building was completly gone.Some people said I was daft as there was no pool on the prominade but my memories of that place will never disappear. After a couple of hours frozen to the spot I remember seeing my Mum running towards me and picking me up, crying and hugging me as if she hadnt seen me in years or something. I loved it so much and will always remember it . Summerland Leisure Complex Douglas Isle of Man IM99 2TB Tel: +44 (0) 1624 625511 The Site Facilities Include: Cinema Children's Soft Play Area Squash Badminton Basketball Five-a-Side Football Tennis Rollerskating Volleyball Indoor Golf Simulator Sports Bar Nightclub Spa Suite Future of Summerland Site 5 October 2010 There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. 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. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. of 1971. On the evening of Thursday 2nd August 1973 an estimated 3,000 people were enjoying themselves at the resort. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. fire, which triggered a major change in fire regulations on the Island. This part of the building was clad in a material called Galbestos: profiled steel sheeting with asbestos felt on both sides coated with bitumen,[5][8] with no fire-resistant qualities. When Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. While children were entertained in the theatre, parents could relax upstairs. [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. 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. Summerland Fire Memorial - Douglas, Isle of Man in Disaster Memorials Posted by: Mike_bjm N 54 10.005 W 004 27.799 30U E 404467 N 6003063 Quick Description: The Summerland Fire Memorial is in the Kaye Memorial Gardens on King Edward Road Rushen in Douglas. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. 1. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. 34808 | VAT Registration Number: 001090349 Directors . The closure of the . The state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in the British Isles. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). The 3.5 acre Summerland resort, claiming to be the biggest and most innovative indoor entertainment centre in the world, was hailed by the British Tourist Authority as An outstanding tourist enterprise. [11] Around 80 people were seriously injured in the resulting crush and fire and received physical and mental scars. Gallery Click to Enlarge. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. 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 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. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. 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. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! Tehachapi, CA, US. [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. 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. The Majestic. 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. The Manx Development Corporation is part of the strategy for realizing economic, social and environmental benefits through enabling full utilization of government owned land and property assets and acting as a catalyst for regeneration and repurposing of urban and brownfield sites. After another few minutes the flames had spread over the top of the building and were beginning to engulf the whole place, it was horrible to see. A Cafe. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition 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. I hope you'll find it a useful means of info as to the current status of the site; my hopes for the Isle of Man Government to develop a memorial space there dedicated to the 50 killed in the fire of 2nd August 1973; the one minute's silence I organise on the anniversary of the fire; the Summerland Memorial Concert held each year; together with links and blogs. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. xx. 2. ws Summerland after fire - skeleton of building. 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. Experts searching the wreckage. 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 . The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. But things got a little more decadent when you ventured underground. 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 [email protected] 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 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. 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. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. 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. 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. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. belindaI went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. With the building also suffering from concrete cancer, the remainder of the site closed in 2004, and demolition began in January 2006. mike howarthI 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. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. Demolition of the site from Oct 2005. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. 7. vox pop older man re. Add Your Event View All 04 March Saturday Manx Amateur Drama Federation Coffee Morning View 10:00 - 12:00 Current Weather 9 4 03 March Friday 8 4 But the dream was short lived. 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. I remember going there as a 6 year old. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. the old building demolished. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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. Then with my children to manxland,their first birthday parties, my sisters-in-laws fashion shows & watching cousin's children do ballroom dancing & they're just a handfull of memories!Summerland was a one off & while the Villa Marina is a part of our islands history & heritage, there will never be another place like Summerland - it's in a league of it's own. As kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. 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. 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 What a great place. . 8. This devastating fire ripped through a leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. Ladies Location: Douglas - The Nunnery estate Type: Haunting Manifestation Date / Time: Unknown It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. 4. vs damage to building. I 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. Summerlands bed and breakfast (B&B) is a charming and unique house in Ramsey, which has recently been refurbished throughout to a very high standard. Tehachapi, CA, US. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. [4], Summerland was designed to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists and consisted of a dance hall, five floors of holiday games, a rollerskating rink, restaurants and public bars. Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. 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. Isle of Man > Ramsey > Summerland > Semi-detached house for sale - 4 bedrooms . What a great place. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. 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. I used to love walking round the place & everytime it was just as amazing as the first time.Then in my teens & 20's & 30's going to the cave & upstairs for the TT events from TT supporters club meetings,to gigs & tyre balancing. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. I was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. Welcome to Summerland Today! Experts into wreckage of building 4. Custom Mountain home in Tehachapi CA.-2 hrs from LA or 2 hrs from Central Coast. Map. Game & Entertainment Centers. 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. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. 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. 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! OK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! Summerland was rebuilt, but staff and visitors to the site reported the sounds of screaming, hearing footsteps along empty passages, and occasionally seeing ghostly people wandering around the area. 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! Douglas (Man There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. The world's first offshore oil wells, drilled from piers in 1896. It was a climate-controlled building covering 3.5 acres (1.4ha) on Douglas's waterfront, consisting of 50,000sqft (4,600m2) of floor area constructed at a cost of 2 million. There were two phases in the building The fire services were not called for over 20 minutes,[5] and even then the call did not originate from Summerland. 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. William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. StewartI 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. In June of 1832, Cholera arrived on the Isle of Man.
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