The Summerland leisure complex in the Isle of Man, a popular tourist destination for many years, closed its doors for the last time in 2018. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. 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. While many escaped the inferno unharmed, the incident claimed 50 lives and seriously injured 80. Summerland: deadly lessons lost | RIBAJ The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. Summerland , Douglas, Isle of Man. Original early 1970s Flyer. belindaI went to the Isle of Man after the fire and never heard of the fire until recently. VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man's premier ENTERTAINMENT venue. . It was so colourful and had such a happy and relaxed atmosphere. "Excellent! 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. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. County: . I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. I am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. 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. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. Game & Entertainment Centers. (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.) 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. 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. 30 Summerland isle of man ideas | summerland, isle of man, isle The queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. xx. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. 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. PDF Heritage: A look at the Castle Mona Hotel s history The journey from Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. 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. [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. xx. The Summerland concept was new and made the Isle of Man complex unique in the British Isles when the building opened in 1971. Humans colonised it by travelling by sea some time before 6500 BC. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Phase I was the Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. The fire killed 50 people, eleven of them under the age of twenty. SUMMERLANDS B&B - Reviews, Photos (Ramsey) - Tripadvisor 05 Apr 2023 - 16 Apr 2023. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. There are more than 2 filming locations on our site. I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.On the 2nd of August, 1973, a fire broke out in . William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. 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. Lots of wildlife viewing!! 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!) When it opened Summerland w 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. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) 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. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. This, coupled with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, is what made this the worst night of my life. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. While children were entertained in the theatre, parents could relax upstairs. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey | ManxLiving Isle of Man Property The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. 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. PDF The 1973 Summerland disaster lessons to the building industry from STORY. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. My Mum persuaded me not to stay any longer in the childrens' play area in the basement, so we returned to the gallery area overlooking the stage/dancefloor to join my brother and uncle. 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. MER 26 56 Douglas 1978 | Isle of man, Summerland, Isle We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. House Sitting in Mission Canyon, California, US | TrustedHousesitters.com Most of week had been spent at the evening disco and I still have photos and the weekly ticket from our good times there. 2017 Keystone Summerland 2980 BH for Sale in Carville LA Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. ! Summerland Disaster - ScienceDirect Isle of Man - The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency Mountain retreat in Southern California. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) The complex Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA (en) dbo:thumbnail (The comedian/presenter on stage made a remark about there being "a chip pan on fire"). Overview. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. 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. 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. 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 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. Those were the days. THE 10 BEST Chinese Restaurants in Isle of Man (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor [9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. The building's exterior and the interior were designed by two different architectsthey did not coordinate their planning with each other and thereby created a venue with significant fire risks that were to become apparent only later. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. [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 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. Isle of Man - Wikitravel I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. Custom Mountain home in Tehachapi CA.-2 hrs from LA or 2 hrs from Central Coast. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. The burning kiosk collapsed against the exterior of the building. 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 1. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. Gray 2017 Keystone Summerland 2980 BH with 1 miles for sale at public car auctions in Carville LA on 03-07-2023. Heavy Truck Driver Jobs in Canada for Foreigners in 2022 I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. I 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.. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. [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. tracyI am a surviver of this tragedy.I still have nightmares. I remember hearing a woman shouting "My God, my children are in there", which I still find a bone-chilling thought. I 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. 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. Reverse of the small poster is also in colour and lists all the many attractions.. 5. vs burned out building. Now I have my own kids of my age at the time of the disaster, I know why. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. 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. 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. [1] [2] [3] Background Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. I was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. The venue was designed to hold 10,000 people in five floors and included swimming. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. The island was cut off from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC as sea levels rose following the end of the ice age. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. 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. seeing many bodies, young people burned beyond recognition 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. 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.. 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. The Paranormal Database At first we thought it was only a small fire but we soon became aware that it was a lot more serious. 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!) 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. Find it on the Isle of Man | Business, Restaurants, Classifieds, Events Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. 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). Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. Kayti Summerland signed up 2022-08-04 22:08:04 -0400. Haunted Isle of Man/THE TRAGIC SUMMERLAND FIRE, ISLE OF MAN 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 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 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. FREE membership. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. A lot of people on the Island will never forget what happened on 2nd August 1973. 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. 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. 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. 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. I had a great time. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. 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. It was all shining, it even smelt new. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. Isle of Man community commemorate 49th anniversary of Summerland - ITVX 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. The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. 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! For just over two years the centre attracted visitors from all over the world. 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. 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. 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 house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. This button displays the currently selected search type. SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. 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. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. 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. 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. Summerland was such a great place to hang out and I would guess that most of the Isle of Man population that was around at the time of the fire is still in shock. 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.
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