We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. Ladies Location: Douglas - The Nunnery estate Type: Haunting Manifestation Date / Time: Unknown The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. 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. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. 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! My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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. I went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. The venue attracted thousands of people to the. 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. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) 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? The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. 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. Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Some photos of Summerland and the demolition (I'll post them in batches because uploading all at once seems to mess up the order) Quote Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Damn flood control Quote The Old Git Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man [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. 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. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. OK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. 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. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. [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. The Majestic. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. 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. 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). fire, which triggered a major change in fire regulations on the Island. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. 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 . It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. of 1971. 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'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific 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. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. carol burnsI survived that terrible disaster. Noel Skillicorn, LiverpoolSummerland 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. 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. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. 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 . 7. . 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. Siobhan McHaleWe had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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". The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. I loved it so much and will always remember it . Summerland was an odd mix of styles: one half light, airy and modern; the other windowless and concrete. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. 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. 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. Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. 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. [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. Bob EmeryWhen Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. The site on King Edward Road in Douglas has remained unused since the complex was. The conflagration took place on 2 August 1973 in this ambitious entertainment complex in Douglas, Isle of Man, commissioned in 1965 and opened in May 1971. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. 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. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. 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. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. 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. If you like to see Seven Sisters - view in Seaford, United Kingdom or any other wonderful filming locations from Summerland, start scrolling. The ghost walk at Castle Rushen is said to be one of the best on the island and can be booked here. Tehachapi, CA, US. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. STORY. 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. 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. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. 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. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. 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. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. 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: But the dream was short lived. 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. . 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. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. The plans took years to finalise. Douglas Corporation, aided by grants from the Isle of Man Government, spent 1.5 million on the building and more cash was provided by The International Trust House Forte group who had taken Summerland LTD on as a subsidiary. 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 were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Gray 2017 Keystone Summerland 2980 BH with 1 miles for sale at public car auctions in Carville LA on 03-07-2023. 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. You are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. 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. It was all shining, it even smelt new. 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. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. Map. Phase I was the 1. At the time Summerland was one of the most. xx. The end of a holiday dream There are more than 2 filming locations on our site. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. Andy, LiverpoolAs kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. For just over two years the centre attracted visitors from all over the world. 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. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. I had a great time. Game & Entertainment Centers. 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. [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. 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. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. 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 remember seeing below us musicians from the group who had been on stage swimming across the learner pool, one of them with his guitar. Those were the days. Summerland. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey, IM8 for 420,000. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. 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. 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. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. 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!! 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 The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. Manx Forums - A Discussion Board & Classifieds for the Isle of Man. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. This was on the 2nd floor. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! ! Overview. Property reference . Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. The Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. 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. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. 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). I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. i remembr 1968-69 , I worked at White City on the Isle of Man , they were the eight best years of my life. 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.
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