Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster - BBC News 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. 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. . In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. 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. 1. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. Property description & features. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. Isle of Man Government - Manx Development Corporation Summerland Fire Disaster - Douglas, Isle of Man - 2nd August 1973 At the time Summerland was one of the most. [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. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. 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. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. Marketed by Chrystals, Isle of Man 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. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. 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. 7. vox pop older man re. xx. 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. The rest is of course history. The concept was so radical that architect Geoffrey Ellis came to the Island to work for Mr 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. With the help of the government and Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd the I was 13 when summerland went on fire i still remember that night clearly my mum and i had told my dad that we were going to summerland while he went to the villa marine to watch wrestling but just before the bus stopped we changed our mind and went to white city we had just got into white city when we were told summerland was on fire we had to walk all the way round onchan to get back to the prom its a scene you will never forget seeing people jumping into the sea to get away from the flames even when we came home on the boat your were reminded again as we had to wait until all the coffins were taken of first as a mark of respect. 34808 | VAT Registration Number: 001090349 Directors . CLOSED COMPLETELY! 13 Spooky & Haunted places in the Isle of Man Lovely Greens 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. NOTHING! The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. 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 . My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. 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). But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. "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. Reverse of the small poster is also in colour and lists all the many attractions.. The site on King Edward Road in Douglas has remained unused since the complex was. Summerland disaster - Wikipedia 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. William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. 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. . 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. 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. Instead the first call came from a passing taxi driver, while another came from the captain of a ship 2 miles (3.2km) offshore who radioed HM Coastguard and said, "It looks as if the whole of the Isle of Man is on fire". Summerland Fire Memorial - Douglas, Isle of Man - Waymarking Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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 survived that terrible disaster. Those were the days. Overview. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. 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! The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. Summerland , Douglas, Isle of Man. Original early 1970s Flyer. Jumping and diving from the boards was also fun with us all playing dead mans fall from the different boards, but I never did manage to dive or even jump from the top board. 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. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. Summerland, Isle of Man sammy hamiltonI worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. Phase I was the ! I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. '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. 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. STORY. I was 5 at the time. 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. Ladies Location: Douglas - The Nunnery estate Type: Haunting Manifestation Date / Time: Unknown Location: Doolish; Share; Posted July 3, 2008. . [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. Heavy Truck Driver Jobs in Canada for Foreigners in 2022 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. The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and 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. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. 7. 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. 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. 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 too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. The world's first offshore oil wells, drilled from piers in 1896. This button displays the currently selected search type. 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. Isle of Man - The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. And the name, it was just called the summerland play area, or Barry Nobles arcade before that (not to be confused with the one that was opposite Woolworths) The transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. Condition is excellent. 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 We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. from when I was an infant until I was a teenager.Also my dad and his friend used to have such fun jumping on the beaded filled cushions in the solariumI also remember being at home in Liverpool watching the blaze on TV and crying becuase I would never be able to go there again. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. 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. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. Summerland hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy belindaI went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. Sharon BridsonI was 12 that year. The Summerland site is to go on sale after Manx government attempts to find a private development partner failed. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. 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.. We actually visited the Summerland on the day of the fire, I can remember the night of the fire, we were staying in a hotel on the opposite end of the prom, I was there with my cousin and our Mum's and Dad's had gone out for the evening. A Cafe. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer There's not much left of the place. 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. What a great place. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. Original 1970s flyer in colour. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. 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. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. They were each fined 3 (equal to 31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. Department of Community, Culture and Leisure announces future of Summerland site, Redevelopment of the Former Summerland Site - The Wave. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. What a great place. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. But things got a little more decadent when you ventured underground. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. 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. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. [10], Because of the locked fire doors, many people headed to the main entrance, which caused a crush.[9]. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. 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. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. 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. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. Lots of wildlife viewing!! (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.) I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. [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. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. 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). 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. [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. carol burnsI survived that terrible disaster. 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. Experts searching the wreckage. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why.

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