[7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. Tehachapi, CA, US. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. 5. 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. Map. The latter idea was eventually scrapped when it was discovered some of the birds were poisoning themselves by eating the plastic foliage. 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. FREE membership. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. 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. It was all shining, it even smelt new. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. [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. Summerland was a high tech leisure centre that was built in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and opened in 1971. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. [9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. There were 7 floors in total and the building had a capacity for 5 thousand people. Summerland was an odd mix of styles: one half light, airy and modern; the other windowless and concrete. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. I decided to throw a wobbly and asked for a toy as I didn't want to go to the show - overtired! 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. 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. Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SE Registered in the Isle of Man No. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. 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. 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 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. 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 island was cut off from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC as sea levels rose following the end of the ice age. 30 Mar 2023 - 05 Apr 2023 +. 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. We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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, Crazy Carol, OnchanMoonwalk,rollerskating & swimming, just 3 of the things that kept myself, my brother & cousins entertained for hours. There is also significant attic. At the time Summerland was one of the most. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. The Summerland disaster is the worst day in Manx history and remains the third worst loss of life from fire on land in the British Isles since World War Two. 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. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. LOCATION From the Sea Terminal proceed the length of the Promenade. Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. 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 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. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. 3. ws firemen in orange coats looking at building. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. Those were the days. But the dream was short lived. 05 Apr 2023 - 16 Apr 2023. NOTHING! There were two phases in the building ! [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. 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. The survivor and her mother were separated from her father and sister and stuck in the venue before being rescued through a window by firemen. Property reference . We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. 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. Those were the days. 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. I worked in Summerland a week before it burnt down. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. When Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. With the help of the government and Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd the See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. 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. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. In June of 1832, Cholera arrived on the Isle of Man. 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. The fire started at around 7:30p.m. on 2 August 1973 when approximately 3,000 people were inside,[5] and was caused by three boys who were smoking in a small disused kiosk,[6] on the centre's miniature golf course[7] and who told police it was likely started by a carelessly discarded match or stub. 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. [11], One survivor wrote about her experiences from the fire in a book entitled Made in Summerland, which was published in July 2018.[12]. The closure of the . It took me a long time to go on holiday again. This devastating fire ripped through a leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. [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. Canada Revenue 1/5 Excise Tax Matchbook "SUMMERLAND GROCETERIA" West Summerland C$10.00 Seller: DeveneyStamps ( 4410 ) 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. I had a great time. panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. 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. fire, which triggered a major change in fire regulations on the Island. 1. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. Bob EmeryWhen Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. Gallery Click to Enlarge. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). Summerland Leisure Complex Douglas Isle of Man IM99 2TB Tel: +44 (0) 1624 625511 The Site Facilities Include: Cinema Children's Soft Play Area Squash Badminton Basketball Five-a-Side Football Tennis Rollerskating Volleyball Indoor Golf Simulator Sports Bar Nightclub Spa Suite Future of Summerland Site 5 October 2010 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. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. 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. The end of a holiday dream My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. The transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Kayti Summerland signed up 2022-08-04 22:08:04 -0400. 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. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. 7. vox pop older man re. 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 Majestic. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. John McGimpseyI 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.. 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. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. "So far the best Chinese I had on the Island ( and I lived 3 years in China) t.". Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for LIGHTHOUSE DOUGLAS - ISLE OF MAN ( T30 ) at the best online prices at eBay! people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. 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. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. Figure 2 shows where the fire initially started, and it spread quickly over the building faade. You are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. The queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. I loved it so much and will always remember it . Phase II The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. 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 year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. I was 5 at the time. 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. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. On the evening of Thursday 2nd August 1973 an estimated 3,000 people were enjoying themselves at the resort. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. 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! over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). When it opened Summerland w I made lots of friends both from the island and liverpool. 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. xx. 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. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. 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. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. (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.) A Cafe. This was on the 2nd floor. The rest is of course history. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. 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. 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. Locations. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. At the time Summerland was one of the most. What a great place. There's not much left of the place. 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. SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. I remember going there as a 6 year old. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. 2. ws Summerland after fire - skeleton of building. 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. 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. 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. Marketed by Chrystals, Isle of Man The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.On the 2nd of August, 1973, a fire broke out in . Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. 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. 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. 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 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. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. 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. Reverse of the small poster is also in colour and lists all the many attractions.. 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! Condition is excellent. I was 12 that year. Add Your Event View All 04 March Saturday Manx Amateur Drama Federation Coffee Morning View 10:00 - 12:00 Current Weather 9 4 03 March Friday 8 4 I was 5 at the time. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. We never knew if she saved our lives. [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971.

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