(The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). I 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. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. I was 5 at the time. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. 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. [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . Gallery Click to Enlarge. RM R8WF63 - Oil wells drilled into the bed of the Pacific ocean at Summerland, between Santa Barbara and Los Angleles, California, United States of America, c. 1915. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. Property reference . The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. 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. [11], One survivor wrote about her experiences from the fire in a book entitled Made in Summerland, which was published in July 2018.[12]. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. If you like to see Seven Sisters - view in Seaford, United Kingdom or any other wonderful filming locations from Summerland, start scrolling. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. jilliani loved summerland it was amazing the play area and the skating the swim baths and all shame the way things went, WAYNE FORDHI, 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. Tehachapi, CA, US. 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. 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. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. 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 had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. StewartI dont remember the initial Summerlands complex, but I was in Summerlands in the mid 80's; after it was rebuilt and reopened in 1978; I was therer on annual camp with the scouts, that was the year I joined the scouts and that was the reason i joined, the trip to the Isle of Man.What a great time I had there using the swimming pool. 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. The ghost walk at Castle Rushen is said to be one of the best on the island and can be booked here. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. The site on King Edward Road in Douglas has remained unused since the complex was. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. Experts searching the wreckage. 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. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. Condition is excellent. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. 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. panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. 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. At the time Summerland was one of the most. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. 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. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. I hope you'll find it a useful means of info as to the current status of the site; my hopes for the Isle of Man Government to develop a memorial space there dedicated to the 50 killed in the fire of 2nd August 1973; the one minute's silence I organise on the anniversary of the fire; the Summerland Memorial Concert held each year; together with links and blogs. 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. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. 6. vox pops boys re. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. We were first alerted to it by the noise from the fire engines.Looking out the window of the boarding house we saw the flames. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. For just over two years the centre attracted visitors from all over the world. We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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. 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. Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. 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. [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. 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!! 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. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. A Cafe. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. 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). 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). 5. vs burned out building. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. 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. BBC Isle of Man, Broadcasting House, Douglas Head, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1SW, I was 16 at the time of the fire, like many teeagers in Douglas we spent most of our evenings and many a wet day at Summerland.We could occasionally get served in the bars and if not we roller skated on the big rink downstairs.The night of the fire we had left Summerland to go to the stock cars at Onchan stadium, we got as far as the Catholic church in Oncan park when we saw a thin column of black smoke and people began to gather at the cliff top overlooking the site.We ran across the golf course watching the smoke grow, by the time we reached the cliff, half of the seaward wall of Summerland was blazing with a thick sheet of jet black smoke rising hundreds of feet.From our viewpoint we watched the fire spread over the huge oroglas canopy and saw thousands of people pouring out of the doors.When the events of 9/11 were shown on tv it reminded me of Douglas prom that night, teeming with shocked people and emergency vehicles flying up and down.We ended up in the Granada hotel trying to phone our parents to tell them we were ok but the phones were busy.The next morning the whole town stank of burnt plastic and vans instead of ambulannces ferried the dead to a makeshift mortuary.I didn't loose anyone and I dont have nightmares, but it was a dark part of my childhood and a memory that is still often in my thoughts. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. 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. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. From Wonderful California, published 1915. When it opened Summerland w I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. Places - Lost in Time: Summerland Centre, Isle of Man - YouTube Hello, and welcome again to Places - Lost in Time, a series that looks back on the tale of places and locations that have. '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. Siobhan McHaleWe had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. 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.
