There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. 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. Jumping and diving from the boards was also fun with us all playing dead mans fall from the different boards, but I never did manage to dive or even jump from the top board. 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. xx. 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. Condition is excellent. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. 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. The indoor Summerland leisure complex in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world and its facilities put the Isle of Man on the map as one of the most important tourist destinations in. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. I survived that terrible disaster. 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 remember going there as a 6 year old. 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. There is also significant attic. Gallery Click to Enlarge. The end of a holiday dream on arrival above somerland we couldnt beleve the whole building was an infurno (just where we would have been had we not been delayed)we left the site not beleving such a tragity could be hapening to those poor people,and by the grace of god spared us.with the passing of time and no disrespect to those who loved ones perished or were injured i beleve that summerland was a fabulous venue of the time and should be under another name be reserected for the people of the island and visitors alike,the past is the past and nothing can remain a stain of the building/archetects or goverment who built it in good faith and by unforcene events that happend.the island needs a new complex to invest in tourisem and for the island people to enjoy in these hard days ahead bring life back to the island as it was before the doom and gloom merchants moved in.being a stopover from the late 60s and with three children who were born here i personaly would like to see an indoor complex such as summerland revived. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. The site on King Edward Road in Douglas has remained unused since the complex was. We felt at the time that it was the beginning of the good times here on the Isle of Man. 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. 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. The Majestic. 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. on arrival above somerland we couldnt beleve the whole building was an infurno (just where we would have been had we not been delayed)we left the site not beleving such a tragity could be hapening to those poor people,and by the grace of god spared us.with the passing of time and no disrespect to those who loved ones perished or were injured i beleve that summerland was a fabulous venue of the time and should be under another name be reserected for the people of the island and visitors alike,the past is the past and nothing can remain a stain of the building/archetects or goverment who built it in good faith and by unforcene events that happend.the island needs a new complex to invest in tourisem and for the island people to enjoy in these hard days ahead bring life back to the island as it was before the doom and gloom merchants moved in.being a stopover from the late 60s and with three children who were born here i personaly would like to see an indoor complex such as summerland revived. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. The island was cut off from the surrounding islands around 8000 BC as sea levels rose following the end of the ice age. 1. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. Those were the days. 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 would like to see an ice-skating rink there (which the Island needs). Mass Cholera Grave in Douglas. Summerland was fulfilling its promise of taking Manx tourism into the future. NOTHING! 6. vox pops boys re. 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. There were two phases in the building The fire killed 50 people, eleven of them under the age of twenty. 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 . 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. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. We were in Summerland on the night of the fire, as we had been most evenings. 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. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. 5. 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. 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. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. This devastating fire ripped through a leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. We had a family holiday on the IoM when I was 6. My Uncle and several other "big chaps" hurled themselves against the fire doors to break them down. It was so colourful and had such a happy and relaxed atmosphere. [1] [2] [3] Background Summerland was opened on 25 May 1971. 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. This, coupled with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, is what made this the worst night of my life. 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 was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. It does not take away from the fact that it was for a few years, a great place to be. The rest is of course history. 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 site was acquired by Douglas Corporation in 1964 and The island has been visited by various raiders and trading peoples over the years. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer 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. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. There was no attempt to evacuate the 3,000 people present[5] until the visible evidence of the flames prompted a panic-stricken mass rush for the exits. 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 remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. The venue attracted thousands of people to the. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. Summerland. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey. 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. 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. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. We went to the shops on the prom and I still have Minnie the clockwork mouse to this day. We never knew if she saved our lives. Douglas Corporation, aided by grants from the Isle of Man Government, spent 1.5 million on the building and more cash was provided by The International Trust House Forte group who had taken Summerland LTD on as a subsidiary. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. But the dream was short lived. [9] The centre was seriously damaged by the fire. This was on the 2nd floor. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. Overview. With the help of the government and Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd the Location: Isle of Man Date Posted: 4/5/2017 2:49:35 PM Waymark Code: WMVDNA On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) It was all shining, it even smelt new. 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. The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. Sharon BridsonI was 12 that year. Marketed by Chrystals, Isle of Man 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! 8. A recent trip to Isle of Man brought back many happy memories but I was sad to see that not only had Summerlands closed but the building was completly gone.Some people said I was daft as there was no pool on the prominade but my memories of that place will never disappear. 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. 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. over 1.7 million (government grant of 600,000). [7] The coastguard immediately called the fire brigade. janice gale from dreghorn scotlandI was 13 when summerland went on fire i still remember that night clearly my mum and i had told my dad that we were going to summerland while he went to the villa marine to watch wrestling but just before the bus stopped we changed our mind and went to white city we had just got into white city when we were told summerland was on fire we had to walk all the way round onchan to get back to the prom its a scene you will never forget seeing people jumping into the sea to get away from the flames even when we came home on the boat your were reminded again as we had to wait until all the coffins were taken of first as a mark of respect. 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. Map. We never knew if she saved our lives. 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. This button displays the currently selected search type. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. 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. Mountain retreat in Southern California. Behind the stage was the huge rock face. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. 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. I'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. 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. I do recall entering a talent competition and singing 'I'm a little teapot'. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. 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. carol burnsI survived that terrible disaster. 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's not much left of the place. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. 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 pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. From pantomime to ballet and live music to musicals. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. 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 . As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. 1. Summerland was only a mile away from the District General Hospital and there was no clearing station for preliminary assessment of the injured. 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. Jumping and diving from the boards was also fun with us all playing dead mans fall from the different boards, but I never did manage to dive or even jump from the top board. [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. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. [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. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. [9] The building's open-plan design included many unblocked internal spaces that acted as chimneys, adding to the conflagration. Ian Phillips of Birmingham University suggests these reporting discrepancies explain why some sources have given incorrect death tolls of 49, 51, or 53. ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399665 - 12.48. It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. 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. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. 1. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. Find it on the Isle of Man | Business, Restaurants, Classifieds, Events and more To access your webmail, click Sign In Find it on the Isle of Man Click here to sign into webmail What's On? "Good crispy duck and great main dishes.". I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. 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 Behind the stage was the huge rock face. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments submitted. 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. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. SUMMERLAND, DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN. 2. ws Summerland after fire - skeleton of building. We came back to the island the year after the fire and we stayed in Oncan. 420,000 Property details; 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. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! The fire services were not called for over 20 minutes,[5] and even then the call did not originate from Summerland. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. Summerland was a high tech leisure centre that was built in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and opened in 1971. 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. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. 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. 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. Tehachapi, CA, US. Jade Harbour Restaurant. Follow on beyond Summerland and Port Jack. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. Continue along King Edward Road beyond the new offices of Royal Skandia. Having met with Mr Gawne MHK to discuss my proposal for a commemorative space prior to his unsuccessful re-election, then continued with Ray Harmer MHK the newly . 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 scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. I loved it so much and will always remember it . For me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. 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! The worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. people screaming and trying to escape, one boy broke a window with a microphone stand. They went to give bloood and looked for my brother and sister on the way. 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. Much thought was given to bringing a sunshine-feel to the building. 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). At the time Summerland was one of the most. 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. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. 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. I lost a couple of pals in the fire. Figure 2 shows where the fire initially started, and it spread quickly over the building faade. (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.) 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. 7. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. 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. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. 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. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. 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. Experts searching the wreckage. I stood on the prom looking over at the Summerland complex contemplating whether to give it a go or not. Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Some photos of Summerland and the demolition (I'll post them in batches because uploading all at once seems to mess up the order) Quote Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man Posted February 17, 2006 Damn flood control Quote The Old Git Regulars 7.1k Gender:Male Location:Isle of Man Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) Humans colonised it by travelling by sea some time before 6500 BC. (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.) The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.On the 2nd of August, 1973, a fire broke out in . We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. The burnt out remains of the centre in September 1973, one month after the fire. Two years after its completion in 1971 the high tech promenade venue was the scene of devastation after a fire ripped through the building killing 50 people. Everthing about that place was magical, everyone had a smile on their face & the atmosphere was exciting. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. The whole thing ended so tragically but it's important to remember the good times too. The 3.5 acre Summerland resort, claiming to be the biggest and most innovative indoor entertainment centre in the world, was hailed by the British Tourist Authority as An outstanding tourist enterprise.
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