I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. 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. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. 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. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. 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. 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. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey, IM8 for 420,000. 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. As kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. But things got a little more decadent when you ventured underground. 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 NOTHING! 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. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. The street frontage and part of the roof was clad in Oroglas, a transparent acrylic glass sheeting.[5]. 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. 2. ws Summerland after fire - skeleton of building. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition dotty kiddI 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. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. 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. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. 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. 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. Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. 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. 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 building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. 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. [1][2][3], Summerland was opened on 25 May 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. "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. I was 5 at the time. Zoom in to cu of Summerland Complex and fire damage 2. vs fire damage 3. 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 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. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 7. vox pop older man re. Location: Doolish; Share; Posted July 3, 2008. . We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. Bid today! 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. 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. 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. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. I remember going there as a 6 year old. FREE membership. The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. 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 site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and 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. Kayti Summerland signed up 2022-08-04 22:08:04 -0400. '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. Numerous firms are employing truck drivers in different locations of Canada like Alberta, Ontario, Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, Quebec, Ottawa, Calgary, and also great deals of extra. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. 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. 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. 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. 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. Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). 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. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. Opened with much fanfare a little more than two years earlier on 25 May 1971, the 2m climate-controlled building boasted restaurants and bars, an indoor heated swimming pool, saunas, a children's theatre and an underground disco. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. 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. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. 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. 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 devastating fire ripped through a leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. 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. [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. Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) 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. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. 420,000 Property details; Lots of wildlife viewing!! It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. 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 Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. 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. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. 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. 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. At the time Summerland was one of the most. There is also significant attic. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. 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. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. 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. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. 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. carol burnsI survived that terrible disaster. 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. [14] No specific individuals or groups were blamed and the deaths were attributed to misadventure, although the delay in evacuation and the flammable building materials were condemned. Property description & features. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. belindaI went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. The plans took years to finalise. There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. 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. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. What a great place. 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. Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. Phase II Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA We never knew if she saved our lives. There are more than 2 filming locations on our site. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. STORY. 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. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. It was indeed quite glamorous and I know for a fact my mum and dad spent more than a few romantic evenings there, (We kids got packed off to our grandparents house!) [9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. 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. 1. Summerland was fulfilling its promise of taking Manx tourism into the future. 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. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. 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. You are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. The concept was so radical that architect Geoffrey Ellis came to the Island to work for Mr 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.