Episodes

  • Remembering Summerland - interviews with survivors
    Aug 2 2023

    Today (2 August) marks fifty years since the devastating fire at the Summerland leisure centre on Douglas promenade, during which 50 people died and around 80 were injured.

    In recent weeks we've heard the detailed stories from survivors and victims' families.

    In this edition, Lewis Foster speaks to Jackie Hallam from Huddersfield who was just 12 when she escaped the Summerland fire with life-changing burns but lost her Mum and best friend in the blaze. Also, Robert Wilson who was caught in the fire during his holiday from Northern Ireland, and Tina Brennan, who witnessed the fire and has long campaigned for the victims to be appropriately remembered.

    We speak also to the Chief Minister about calls to change the verdict of 'misadventure' recorded at the inquest into the deaths.

    The podcast ends with a reading of Robert Wilson's own poem 'Embers', written in honour of those who lost their lives.

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    35 mins
  • Will they return?
    Aug 2 2023

    In the final part of a special series reflecting back on "Summerland - 50 Years on", looking at how tourism led to the building and development of the complex and also reflecting on the night of the fire that brought a distressing end to it, John Moss asks 'where is Manx tourism going?' as the current Government looks to attract half a million visitors annually to the Island.

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    25 mins
  • The Night of the Fire
    Aug 2 2023

    50 years ago, on August 2nd 1973, a fire at the Summerland Complex in Douglas claimed 50 lives. This is the second in a special series presented by John Moss, with this programme reflecting on the night of the tragedy itself. *This programme contains material that some may find distressing*

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    25 mins
  • The Road to Summerland
    Aug 1 2023

    In the autumn of 1968 construction started on a huge holiday complex on the Derby Castle site at the north end of Douglas Promenade, and was to be called Summerland. But why did the normally conservative Island authorities throw their weight behind such an expensive tourism facility? How did the beaches of Benidorm and the Costa Blanca set the Island on a path that was to end tragically on the night of August 2nd 1973?

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    25 mins
  • Summerland Fire Archive - Interviews from the time
    Jul 31 2023

    Compilation of reports and interviews. Includes News report morning after (Peter Kneale), with Chief Constable Statement, Alan Jackson on
    site report , Announcements, brief statement from Mayor of Douglas, On site report the morning after, as well as additional features (possibly
    from BBC) including interviews with one of the architects, a representative from the manufacturers of the roofing material
    “Oroglas”, and an additional report about sentencing of boys who started the fire.

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    31 mins
  • Summerland Fire Archive - Interviews from the time
    Jul 31 2023

    More of Alan Jackson’s live report – PLEASE NOTE: audio ends suddenly, mid-phrase.

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    13 mins
  • Summerland Fire Archive - Interviews from the time
    Jul 31 2023

    Manx Radio Broadcast, 3/8/1973 – Chief Constable Frank Weedon’s statement, Alan Jackson’s live report

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    7 mins
  • Summerland Fire Archive - Interviews from the time
    Jul 31 2023

    Mary Clague – sister at Nobles, discussing her memories of treating people injured in the fire.

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    3 mins