I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. Experts searching the wreckage. 8 ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, June 27, 2017 BUILDINGS AT RISK Heritage: A look at the Castle Mona Hotel s history S A newsdesk@iomtoday.co.im Twi er: @iomnewspapers The journey from the jewel in Douglas s crown to an eyesore A nyone who knows the song The Ugly Duck - ling will know that the bird in Douglas (Man 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 are in: Isle of Man > History > Where the sun always shines. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted. 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. 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. ! We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. We actually visited the Summerland on the day of the fire, I can remember the night of the fire, we were staying in a hotel on the opposite end of the prom, I was there with my cousin and our Mum's and Dad's had gone out for the evening. 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. 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. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. Its charred steel skeletal remains were demolished in 1975 and then rebuilt on a smaller scale, construction commencing in 1976, with a smaller area of glass than the original, and a highly advanced fire extinguisher and alarm system. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) 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. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. 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. I was 5 at the time. The latter idea was eventually scrapped when it was discovered some of the birds were poisoning themselves by eating the plastic foliage. 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 was all shining, it even smelt new. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. 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. 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. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. 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. 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. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. 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. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. A survivor of the devastating Summerland fire on the Isle of Man which killed 50 people, including 15 from Merseyside and Cheshire, has made an emotional appeal for the three Liverpool friends who . ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399665 - 12.48. Tehachapi, CA, US. The Manx Development Corporation is part of the strategy for realizing economic, social and environmental benefits through enabling full utilization of government owned land and property assets and acting as a catalyst for regeneration and repurposing of urban and brownfield sites. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. 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.. This was on the 2nd floor. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world and its state-of-the-art facilities put the Isle of Man on the map. NOTHING! 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! Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). 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. 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. 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. 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 plans took years to finalise. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. 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. 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 transparent roof was composed of 6 ft acrylic bronze-tinted sheets so that the natural light filtering through would appear like golden rays. 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. These proposals will necessitate significant investment but will enable us to rectify core issues that have compromised the integrity of the building in recent years, such . I finished work on the 1st of August after working in the bar because Ihad run out of money. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. 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! 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. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. Dr Ian Phillips' book on the Summerland fire, revised in March 2021, is the most comprehensive account ever written of the disaster. 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. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. Johnny, LaxeySummerland 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 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 does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. The site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. 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. FOR SALE! 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. Film: Pos - Sound: Mag SOF - Colour - NYFilm: No - LN Number: LN45368 - Available in HD Storyline Go to top Scenes of the aftermath of the Summerland Pleasure Complex fire Categories Go to top Locations: We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. 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!) There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. 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. Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this.
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