Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. 34808 | VAT Registration Number: 001090349 Directors . 7. I was 5 at the time. 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 state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. County: . Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. 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. At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. Map. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). Lots of wildlife viewing!! There's not much left of the place. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. I will never forget the screams and people climbing over each other to get out. keith jamiesonI 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. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. 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. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. [19][20], On other anniversaries of the disaster many memorials take place, such as a memorial concert and a moment of silence at the location which is now a vacant site. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. 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. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. 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. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. The ghost walk at Castle Rushen is said to be one of the best on the island and can be booked here. In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. 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. The Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. 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. 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 the British Isles. 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. 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 expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. 1. xx. Isle of Man > Ramsey > Summerland > Semi-detached house for sale - 4 bedrooms . 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. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. 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. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. 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. The plans took years to finalise. If you like to see Seven Sisters - view in Seaford, United Kingdom or any other wonderful filming locations from Summerland, start scrolling. I remember going there as a 6 year old. 7. vox pop older man re. 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. [10], Because of the locked fire doors, many people headed to the main entrance, which caused a crush.[9]. 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. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. The west wall remains intact as there is concern that its removal may cause the adjacent cliff to collapse. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.On the 2nd of August, 1973, a fire broke out in . Summerland was only a mile away from the District General Hospital and there was no clearing station for preliminary assessment of the injured. 1. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. 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 would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). 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 finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. 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. The conflagration took place on 2 August 1973 in this ambitious entertainment complex in Douglas, Isle of Man, commissioned in 1965 and opened in May 1971. The fire killed 50 people, eleven of them under the age of twenty. 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. Game & Entertainment Centers. 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. 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. 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. Overview. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. 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. What a great place. Property description & features. NOTHING! . The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. The island has been visited by various raiders and trading peoples over the years. "Good crispy duck and great main dishes.". We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. In June of 1832, Cholera arrived on the Isle of Man. 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. Summerland opened on 25 May 1971 and was designed to accommodate up to 10,000 tourists as one of the largest entertainment centres in the world. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. The concept was so radical that architect Geoffrey Ellis came to the Island to work for Mr See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. Tehachapi, CA, US. 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. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. The first drawings materialised in 1965 but hundreds were drafted out before building work actually started. 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. 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. fire, which triggered a major change in fire regulations on the Island. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. 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! I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. Property reference . 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. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. 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. Phase II 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. 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. 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. 05 Apr 2023 - 16 Apr 2023. 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. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. Catherine WoodhouseI 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 was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. NOTHING! . STORY. Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. 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. '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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. Experts searching the wreckage. The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and 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. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. I survived that terrible disaster. Douglas (Man Situated only a few minutes walk to the beach, harbour, shops and public transport. This button displays the currently selected search type. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. 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. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. [15] Changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. 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. 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 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.