SUMMERLAND
The evening of 2 August 1973 saw one of the worst civil disasters to occur within the British Isles. It happened when fire swept through the Summerland entertainment complex on Douglas promenade, killing 50 people and leaving many more injured.
Work commenced on the complex, situated at the former Derby Castle site, in 1965. By December 1970 the Isle of Man had a new, modern entertainment facility. Summerland was an impressive structure incorporating a basement disco, pubs, a cinema, a crazy golf course and a children's play area. A swimming pool complex, the Aquadrome, was also incorporated into the design. The building consisted of receding terraces overlooking a main hall and was built against a cliff down which a waterfall cascaded. The complex was covered by a revoluntionary new plastic called Oroglas which was bronze tinted to turn ordinary daylight into golden rays of sunshine. The temperature inside the complex was kept at 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Centigrade). It was a year round attraction for residents and visitors alike.
On the night of the disaster 3 boys had been playing with matches in a kiosk on the crazy golf course situated on an outer terrace of the building. The plastic covering of the kiosk caught fire and fell against the outer skin of the main building, starting a fire within a cavity wall. As this continued to burn inside the wall those watching a show inside the complex were assured it was merely a chip pan fire and nothing to worry about. When combustible gases within the wall caused a flash over and the intense heat caused the Oroglas to melt onto those below there was mass panic. Parents looked for children they had left in the play area, those in higher levels threw themselves or children to the ground, people fell over and were trampled in the rush to escape and many found emergency doors locked. In fact, of the 3000 customers and 200 staff in the building at the time it was a miracle that relatively few were killed, thanks mostly to the efforts of the emergency services who were stretched to the limit. Noble's Hospital's switchboard was jammed with calls and a temporary mortuary had to be set up at St George's Church Hall in Douglas. As locals watched from the cliffs above they never imagined the horror unfolding in the burning building below. The place designed as paradise had become hell.
(Credit: www.iomfire.com)
Over the weeks and months following the disaster stories of triumph and tragedy emerged. The statistics made grim reading - 50 dead, 30 seriously injured and requiring long stay hospitalisation, 49 slightly injured, 7 married couples perished, 17 children lost one or both parents and many people physically or mentally scarred for life. Some owed their lives to strangers who sacrificed their own to save them. Two men survived by covering themselves in a wet jacket and lying underneath an overflowing sink as the floor burned away around them. A disaster fund raised £85,000 from which £100 was paid to the next of kin of each of the dead. An inquiry began in October, the results of which were announced the following year. There were said to be "no villains" to blame for the tragedy but numerous shortcomings were identified in the design of the building and safety precautions, resulting in 34 recommendations being made which have tightened fire regulations throughout the British Isles.
There was some debate as to what to do with the site of such devastation. Whilst the Aquadrome was relatively unscathed it was suggested that the Summerland site itself be left empty as a memorial. However, it was decided to erect a more basic building, continuing to serve as an entertainment complex and maintaining the name Summerland. This building opened in June 1978 but is now crumbling and there are plans to redevelop this within the next few years.
Thirty years on all that remains as a reminder of what happened that evening is a plaque near the site as a memorial to those killed in the Summerland complex. Those involved in the disaster will never forget that night and the lessons learned from such a tragedy.
