I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. I was 5 at the time. xx. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. 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. 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. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. Andy, LiverpoolAs kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) 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 wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399665 - 12.48. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. The end of a holiday dream The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. 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. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. 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 remember seeing below us musicians from the group who had been on stage swimming across the learner pool, one of them with his guitar. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. . A Cafe. 8. 1. [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. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. Location. Bid today! I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! 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. 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. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. Mountain retreat in Southern California. 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. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. 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. 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. I had a great time. There were 7 floors in total and the building had a capacity for 5 thousand people. of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council But things got a little more decadent when you ventured underground. 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. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. 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. 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 think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. Ladies Location: Douglas - The Nunnery estate Type: Haunting Manifestation Date / Time: Unknown Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. 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. "So far the best Chinese I had on the Island ( and I lived 3 years in China) t.". [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. 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. You are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. 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". We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. 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. The site on King Edward Road in Douglas has remained unused since the complex was. There were two phases in the building Those were the days. The world's first offshore oil wells, drilled from piers in 1896. I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. 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. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 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 had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. [11] Around 80 people were seriously injured in the resulting crush and fire and received physical and mental scars. Summerland was a high tech leisure centre that was built in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and opened in 1971. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. 6. vox pops boys re. 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. I would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). 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!! When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. 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. 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. 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. "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. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. I survived that terrible disaster. 420,000 Property details; I remember going there as a 6 year old. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. Property reference . Property description & features. 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. Latest Truck Driver Job Vacancies in Canada in 2022: A certified truck driver is qualified to use for every one of the work placements around right here. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. carol burnsI survived that terrible disaster. 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 was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. Siobhan McHaleWe had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! If you like to see Seven Sisters - view in Seaford, United Kingdom or any other wonderful filming locations from Summerland, start scrolling. Phase I was the This was on the 2nd floor. Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. 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. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. 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. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. 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. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. FREE membership. Welcome to Summerland Today! It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. Those were the days. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. Phase II 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. The centre reopened in June 1978. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. NOTHING! When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. is now owned and operated by the Department of Tourism and Leisure. 4. vs damage to building. At the time Summerland was one of the most. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. 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. The plans took years to finalise. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental Summerland 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 house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom.