I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. Those were the days. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. 7. vox pop older man re. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! 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. 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. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. 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. 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. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. 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 winning a talent contest at Summerland when I was 6 years old.We went to the IOM every year for our summer holidays. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. 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. 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. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. The Summerland site today is in the ownership of the Isle of Man Government, derelict for 12 years and for sale for 10 years until January 2018 when it was taken off the market. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. Phase I was the The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. StuartI 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. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. Original 1970s flyer in colour. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) I loved it so much and will always remember it . I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. 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. 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. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. NOTHING! The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. The ghost walk at Castle Rushen is said to be one of the best on the island and can be booked here. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental 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!! Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. 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. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA 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. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. [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. 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. Department of Community, Culture and Leisure announces future of Summerland site, Redevelopment of the Former Summerland Site - The Wave. The fire services were not called for over 20 minutes,[5] and even then the call did not originate from Summerland. SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. 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. Overview. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! 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. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. Tehachapi, CA, US. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. 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. 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. 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. William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. 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. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. Those were the days. 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. If you like to see Seven Sisters - view in Seaford, United Kingdom or any other wonderful filming locations from Summerland, start scrolling. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. 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. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. 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. 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 Tehachapi, CA, US. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. The first responding fire crews realised additional resources would be required and almost every resource available to the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service was mobilised to the incident (93 of its 106 firefighters and all 16 of its engines). 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. Property description & features. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. 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. I would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). The venue attracted thousands of people to the. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. There were 7 floors in total and the building had a capacity for 5 thousand people. [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. 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. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. Bid today! I worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. 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 had a great time. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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.. 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. 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. 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. With the building also suffering from concrete cancer, the remainder of the site closed in 2004, and demolition began in January 2006. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition Jade Harbour Restaurant. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. 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, Crazy Carol, OnchanMoonwalk,rollerskating & swimming, just 3 of the things that kept myself, my brother & cousins entertained for hours. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. 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. 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. 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). 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 closure of the . 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! 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 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. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) 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. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. At the time Summerland was one of the most. 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? Summerland opened on 25 May 1971 and was designed to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists as one of the largest entertainment centres in the world.
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