FREE membership. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. 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. Property reference . 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 I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! 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. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. There were 7 floors in total and the building had a capacity for 5 thousand people. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. 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. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. 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. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. . It was a tragedy but the happy memories as a child are still vivid even in my late 40's.My thoughts are with those who lost someone dear xx. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. Summerland was only a mile away from the District General Hospital and there was no clearing station for preliminary assessment of the injured. We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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. 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. I worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. (en) dbo:thumbnail They were each fined 3 (equal to 31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs. 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. 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.. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. From Wonderful California, published 1915. I loved it so much and will always remember it . 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. 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. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. 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. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. 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 stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. 1. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. 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. 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. 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 . Custom Mountain home in Tehachapi CA.-2 hrs from LA or 2 hrs from Central Coast. 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. 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. 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. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. The centre reopened in June 1978. 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 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.. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. the old building demolished. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. 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. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) Gallery Click to Enlarge. 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. 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. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. 8. 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. Film: Pos - Sound: Mag SOF - Colour - NYFilm: No - LN Number: LN45368 - Available in HD Storyline Go to top Scenes of the aftermath of the Summerland Pleasure Complex fire Categories Go to top Locations: 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. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. The plans took years to finalise. 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. xx. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. Those were the days. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. The fire services were not called for over 20 minutes,[5] and even then the call did not originate from Summerland. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. This button displays the currently selected search type. Inside the centre he included plans for an indoor heated swimming pool, saunas, Turkish baths, an artificial sunshine zone, a childrens theatre, an underground disco, cascading waterfalls, restaurants and bars all with live entertainment throughout the day. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. . I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. Jade Harbour Restaurant. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. 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. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. 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. Tehachapi, CA, US. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. 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. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. Bob EmeryWhen Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. [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. We stayed for a week and on all of the 4 nights preceding the evening of the disaster I had been to the complex for a swim and play around with new-found friends. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. Experts into wreckage of building 4. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. 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. "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. We never knew if she saved our lives. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. [1] [2] [3] The Majestic. "So far the best Chinese I had on the Island ( and I lived 3 years in China) t.". [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. I would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). Bid today! Location: Doolish; Share; Posted July 3, 2008. . 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. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. 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. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. 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. 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. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. 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 lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. 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! 7. CLOSED COMPLETELY! We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. The world's first offshore oil wells, drilled from piers in 1896. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) It was all shining, it even smelt new. 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.
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