I was 5 at the time. [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'. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. . As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. jilliani loved summerland it was amazing the play area and the skating the swim baths and all shame the way things went, WAYNE FORDHI, 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 worst thing was I could hear screams even from that distance, this has haunted me to this day. 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. 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. Property description & features. 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. "A good batter, a tasty sauce, and the excellent fried rice with chives.". The burnt out remains of the centre in September 1973, one month after the fire. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. William LeedsI remember going there as a 6 year old. This devastating fire ripped through a leisure centre in the Isle of Man, killing 50 people and seriously injuring a further 80. 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. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. 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. Summerland was a high tech leisure centre that was built in Douglas, on the Isle of Man, and opened in 1971. We were there the night before the fire, we just thatought the "moving staircase" by the front door was the best thing ever. NOTHING! Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. 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. 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. 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. We found them distraught watching the flames as they thought we were in the building. Only three Solaria existed at the time: Chicago, Japan and Switzerland. The first occupants were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. 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. We never knew if she saved our lives. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. We crossed onto the promenade via a walkway which crossed the road, I think. My mum eventually took me and my sisters and I couldn't believe how new and lovely everything was. Mountain retreat in Southern California. I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. I had the best holidays ever as a kid in IOM , it is a magical place. construction of a swimming pool, which was completed in 1969. This button displays the currently selected search type. Phase I was the There is also significant attic. Canada Revenue 1/5 Excise Tax Matchbook "SUMMERLAND GROCETERIA" West Summerland C$10.00 Seller: DeveneyStamps ( 4410 ) I had a great time. 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'll never forget the tragedy and the emptiness we felt after that horrific day. I remember going there as a 6 year old. . I still remember the screams and panic, they haunt me to this day. 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. On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) 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. Ramsey is one of the sunniest parts of the Isle of Man, offering walks, fishing, golf, cycling and swimming. I remember the music and noise of people just enjoying themselves. 30 Mar 2023 - 05 Apr 2023 +. 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. Nicole SmithThe queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. xx. The Summerland fire, according to the independent report into the blaze, will remain a permanent scar in the minds of Manxmen.. The Summerland building in Douglas was the first of its kind in the world. The centre reopened in June 1978. There were cafes and bars to relax in when you needed a drink. of 1971. Summerland Leisure Complex Douglas Isle of Man IM99 2TB Tel: +44 (0) 1624 625511 The Site Facilities Include: Cinema Children's Soft Play Area Squash Badminton Basketball Five-a-Side Football Tennis Rollerskating Volleyball Indoor Golf Simulator Sports Bar Nightclub Spa Suite Future of Summerland Site 5 October 2010 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. For me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. See more ideas about summerland, isle of man, brutalist architecture. 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. is now owned and operated by the Department of Tourism and Leisure. 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. 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. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. The west wall remains intact as there is concern that its removal may cause the adjacent cliff to collapse. 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. 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. 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. 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. Tehachapi, CA, US. 420,000 Property details; The queue to get into the swimming pool with my Mum, Dad & brother and of course the smell. 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. 5. vs burned out 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. At the time Summerland was one of the most. I was so sad when the tragedy happened and still feel sad when I drive past the now empty site. 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. [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. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. I think it would be appropriate and (hopefully) not too disrespectful to the people who passed away there. 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. This was on the 2nd floor. 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 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. Locations. complex was rebuilt in 1976 and opened again in 1978. Lots of wildlife viewing!! 1. 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.. (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.) 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. I 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. (en) dbo:thumbnail Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. 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 I was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. 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. 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 The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man.The Summerland Tragedy, Isle of Man. There's not much left of the place. I remember walking past Summerland and seeing a rocking horse from a ride stood on its own. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. 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 Isle of Man [1] ( Manx: Ellan Vannin) is an island in the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. I think they must have broken through a back wall or something to get there. Marketed by Chrystals, Isle of Man There were posters everywhere and everyone was talking about it. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. This was on the 2nd floor. 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. Majestic Apartments can be found a short distance along on the right hand side. There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. The fire killed 50 people, eleven of them under the age of twenty. 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. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) Summerland complex, Isle of Man Isle of Man Tram and Summerland Leisure Centre. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. The lower floors were geared towards children and teenagers, with a disco, fairground. 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. [13] The inscription on the 1998 disaster memorial did not give a death toll; its 2013 replacement lists all 50 names. 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 . Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. [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. [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. 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. Find average house prices, current average values, other historic property data & request a valuation from an estate agent. 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. It had been a last minute holiday booking and to this day I will not go on a last miniute booking holiday. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. 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 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. 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. IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS IMS VINTAGE PHOTOS THIS IS AN ORIGINAL VINTAGE 394351480931 One survivor (who was a child at the time) remembered her father noticing smoke coming from the ventilation shaft and had started to attempt to evacuate when the whole area erupted in flames. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. Semi-detached house for sale in Seacroft, 3 Summerland, Ramsey IM8 Just added. celiaI was on holiday at the IOM with a group of girl friends the week of the Summerland fire. I remember seeing balls of fire dropping from the top of the structure this was the so-called inflammable Oraglass (?) 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. 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. 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. Fifty people were killed and 80 seriously injured. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. Experts into wreckage of building 4. I feel there should always be something incorporated into whatever is built or put on the site to commemmorate the people who died. 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 Majestic. I was told that the drummer from the show we had been watching did not make it. But I was young and my family did not let me know about it. There was a lot of excited anticipation before it opened. Those were the days. Re: Isle of Man Summerland Fire Yes I remember the fire I was 10 years of age and on holiday with my family. The year before the fire we were taken to Summerland to watch a syncronised swimming display. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. Firemen were already on the scene and ran past us with hoses. Outside its raining yet here you are relaxed in your shirt sleeves, gently perspiring in a tropical 80 degrees.. 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. The scale of the fire has been compared to those seen during the Blitz. 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. See where they filmed this movie from 2020 starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Lucas Bond. The pool was salt water and it made my eyes sting. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. 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. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more!