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. 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. After a geotechnical team determined that the blocks could not be safely stabilised or removed, and that there was a risk they would fall into the buildings below, the site was scheduled for demolition. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. I made lots of friends both from the island and liverpool. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. [9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. Summerland. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. the old building demolished. Mountain retreat in Southern California. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. 1. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. 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. We never knew if she saved our lives. What a great place. "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. [10], Because of the locked fire doors, many people headed to the main entrance, which caused a crush.[9]. 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. The closure of the . 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. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. Two years after its completion in 1971 the high tech promenade venue was the scene of devastation after a fire ripped through the building killing 50 people. (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.) There were two phases in the building 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. Kayti Summerland signed up 2022-08-04 22:08:04 -0400. Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. 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. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. 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. of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council I survived that terrible disaster. I loved it so much and will always remember it . 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. 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. This was on the 2nd floor. . The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Douglas (Man Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. There's not much left of the place. A Cafe. 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. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. Sharon BridsonI was 12 that year. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. Manx Forums - A Discussion Board & Classifieds for the Isle of Man. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. I've got used to passing the site & it not being there but from the boat, going in either direction it's still not the same. Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. 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) 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. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. 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. 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. 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. "So far the best Chinese I had on the Island ( and I lived 3 years in China) t.". [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. The west wall remains intact as there is concern that its removal may cause the adjacent cliff to collapse. 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. The island has been visited by various raiders and trading peoples over the years. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. 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. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. 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. 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. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. "Excellent! I had a great time. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. 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. 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 I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. Overview. It was all shining, it even smelt new. We saw the fire take hold and like many others my parents were shocked and crying at the horror of the tragic loss of life. 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 decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! 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. 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey, IM8 for 420,000. 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. On August 2, 1973, at about 20.00, a fire in a kiosk close to Summerland, Isle of Man, started a conflagration and caused the death of 50 people. What a great place. 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. 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 pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. 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. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. 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! Location. 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. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. 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. I remember winning a talent contest at Summerland when I was 6 years old.We went to the IOM every year for our summer holidays. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. on 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!! This button displays the currently selected search type. Tehachapi, CA, US. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. 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. On the evening of Thursday 2nd August 1973 an estimated 3,000 people were enjoying themselves at the resort. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. The venue was designed to hold 10,000 people in five floors and included swimming. 5. vs burned out building. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. xx. Bob EmeryWhen Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. Experts into wreckage of building 4. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. Canada Revenue 1/5 Excise Tax Matchbook "SUMMERLAND GROCETERIA" West Summerland C$10.00 Seller: DeveneyStamps ( 4410 ) I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). Just a stump of a diving board and the deep end of the Aquadrome pool, now home to about twenty billion pigeons The Brutalist concrete exterior concealed a range of sports and leisure facilities, all very wholesome and family-oriented. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) Summerland was only a mile away from the District General Hospital and there was no clearing station for preliminary assessment of the injured. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. 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. 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. The rest is of course history. The street frontage and part of the roof was clad in Oroglas, a transparent acrylic glass sheeting.[5]. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. 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 It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. 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 remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. Now it's completely gone & it is a shame but they will hopefully put something back there for the manx & visitors to enjoy & make their amemories last a lifetime too. Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. 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. 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). 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. 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. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. Custom Mountain home in Tehachapi CA.-2 hrs from LA or 2 hrs from Central Coast. 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 burnt out remains of the centre in September 1973, one month after the fire. 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. Humans colonised it by travelling by sea some time before 6500 BC. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. [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. 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. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. Locations. 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. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. STORY. Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. But the dream was short lived. Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. Isle of Man > Ramsey > Summerland > Semi-detached house for sale - 4 bedrooms . It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. 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. 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. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. 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. '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. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. NOTHING! While children were entertained in the theatre, parents could relax upstairs. The concept was so radical that architect Geoffrey Ellis came to the Island to work for Mr Behind the stage was the huge rock face. 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 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. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. Summerland was an odd mix of styles: one half light, airy and modern; the other windowless and concrete. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. The state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. 8 ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, June 27, 2017 BUILDINGS AT RISK Heritage: A look at the Castle Mona Hotel s history S A newsdesk@iomtoday.co.im Twi er: @iomnewspapers The journey from the jewel in Douglas s crown to an eyesore A nyone who knows the song The Ugly Duck - ling will know that the bird in My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. 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. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. 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 For me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. You are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. Lots of wildlife viewing!! I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week.