Summerland Fire - Douglas, Isle of man - 1973

footage from the summerland disaster of 1973 in the isle of man. The fire would claim around 51 lives. R.I.P.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Isle
• of
• man
• IOM
• Summerland
• Aquadrome
• 1973
• Douglas
• TT
• Races
• Bikes
• ZOOM
• BIG
• FIRE

[mashamorgan]

I was there the day before, I vividly remember the 'Discoteque' and I recall chains on the doors at the back of the building even though I was just a kid.

[cassettiespagetie]

The doors being chained idea was that of the manager at the time whom I have been told was a complete twat.

[ManxyBoy1]

My auntie was in that fire, she saved 3 kids lives!

[pipmann1]

I was 9 at the time and there with my parents on holiday.. my sister and i wanted to go to Summerland that evening but Mum and Dad insisted we went to the theatre..that decision saved our lives...when we left the theatre. the streets were just madness..my dad ended up directing traffic in the road.. been back since but always get a spooky feeling when i go there

[98Tabster]

I was in this building burning when these people were spectating, it is an event that a lot of people wanted to obliterate from their minds, but the victims live on and I am still waiting for my apology!!!!

[MrStan1941]

Just a very sad tragic occasion, may it never happen again.

[atlast1948]

I was in the cafe having a snack & noticed all the dust on top of the huge cotton lampshades- fire hazard 1. Later we watched people rollerskating & the fire exit doors were chained - fire hazard 2 = In the inquiry they mentioned children not able to get out because they had roller skates on & so could not get up the stairs.

When we left the building we had to queue to get through the OUT turnstile. Fire hazard 3. I felt really odd while we were in there. A week later it was on fire.

[ozbossfitness]

My mum was working behind the bar when this went up. She was labelled 'a heroine' cuz she lead a big group of people out to safety (cuz the doors were chained!) Her boss went back in to get more people, but unfortunately didn't make it back out. I was 11 months old, so don't remember it obviously, but this haunted my mum till the day she died late '09. I played basketball in the 'new' one up until I left the island 10yrs ago. gr8 venue. Had character. No more now tho. Needed to go. It was time.

[euroserf]

The same thing happened in TheStardust Ballroom Tragedy in Artane in Dublin...the emergency doors were locked with chains and padlocks, the owner was well connected with the Fíanna Fáil party and was never made to pay and compensation given by the Government and public donations have never been properly divided and granted to survivors either !

[michaelleeism]

@Gazjak29 My grandparents were killed in the fire - would you be willing to get in touch & share with me what you know?

[magglyn]

I was 11 when this happened. I was practicing with the Douglas Youth Band in the Art School when someone came in and told us of the fire. Needless to say the practice was halted, and being the ghoulish things that kids are we went to the prom for a skeet.

A few years later I discovered that the father of a girl I was seeing had helped to ferry the casualties to the hospital in his car.