My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. When Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. 05 Apr 2023 - 16 Apr 2023. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. 1. ! 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. The fire was contained in an internal space within the walls until it penetrated the interior, destroying the wiring of the fire alarm system in the process. 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 think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! 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. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. 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. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. Department of Community, Culture and Leisure announces future of Summerland site, Redevelopment of the Former Summerland Site - The Wave. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). 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. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. Andy, LiverpoolAs kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. "Good crispy duck and great main dishes.". What a great place. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. 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. the old building demolished. This part of the building was clad in a material called Galbestos: profiled steel sheeting with asbestos felt on both sides coated with bitumen,[5][8] with no fire-resistant qualities. 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. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. The state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. I was 12 that year. Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. 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. 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 The island was cut off from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC as sea levels rose following the end of the ice age. 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. 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. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. Property reference . "A good batter, a tasty sauce, and the excellent fried rice with chives.". With the building also suffering from concrete cancer, the remainder of the site closed in 2004, and demolition began in January 2006. Find average house prices, current average values, other historic property data & request a valuation from an estate agent. Although 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. 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. 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. 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. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. [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. panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. 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 year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. 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 girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. Property description & features. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. The venue was designed to hold 10,000 people in five floors and included swimming. 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. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. (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.) 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. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. I survived that terrible disaster. Experts into wreckage of building 4. sammy hamiltonI worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. 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 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 was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. 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". But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. 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. The Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. 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. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. The end of a holiday dream 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. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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. They were each fined 3 (equal to 31.86 in 2020) and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. Tehachapi, CA, US. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. [11] Around 80 people were seriously injured in the resulting crush and fire and received physical and mental scars. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. 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. While children were entertained in the theatre, parents could relax upstairs. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. With the help of the government and Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd the It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA The transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. A Cafe. Seconds later the light grew to a flame a few feet high, then within no time at all there were large flames extending the whole height of the side of the building I was frozen in shock watching what was kicking off. 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) My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. 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. I made lots of friends both from the island and liverpool. FREE membership. 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. xx. 1. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. 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. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. 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. 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. 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. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. 34808 | VAT Registration Number: 001090349 Directors . 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. 4. vs damage to building. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) Those were the days. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). 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. 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. mike howarthI 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. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. 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). A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. 5. Meanwhile a group of three school boys on holiday from Liverpool was hanging around at the back of the building next to a section of a dismantled fibre-glass kiosk.
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