Sending shockwaves through the nation - it's almost been half a century since a seaside disaster claimed 50 lives, including 15 people from Merseyside and Cheshire.
In 1973, thousands of holidaymakers from our region and beyond headed to the Isle of Man for their summer holidays, but they could not have anticipated the devastation that would hit its capital, Douglas, on August 2.
That day, 50 holiday makers were killed - including 11 children - when a blaze ripped through Summerland, a seven-floor leisure centre on the Isle of Man. The building, enclosed with Oroglas, acrylic panels, had promised to "set the architectural world alight" when it opened in 1971, but it is now remembered for the fire which became one of the deadliest on the land since the Second World War.
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The fire started when three schoolboys on holiday from Liverpool were playing with matches in a disused kiosk just outside Summerland that caught fire and collapsed against Summerland’s exterior wall. On September 17, 1973, three Liverpool boys – two of them 12 and the other 14 – appeared before Douglas Juvenile Court and admitted wilfully and unlawfully damaging the lock of a plastic kiosk next to Summerland, the ECHO previously reported.
They were each fined £3 and ordered to pay 33p compensation and 15p costs and the court heard the boys unintentionally started a blaze in the kiosk after breaking in to smoke a cigarette. The ECHO also previously reported how a public inquiry opened on November 18, 1973 under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Joseph Cantley, and its report was published on May 24, 1974.
It returned a verdict of death by misadventure and found that there were “no villains” – just human beings who made mistakes. The report made a series of recommendations, after saying the design of Summerland meant it was “vulnerable to the spread of fire.”
The report found that various materials and lack of protected escape routes added to the scale of the fire. Specific information can be found in the Summerland Fire Commission report.
Bereaved family members and survivors of the Summerland fire are calling for the Isle of Man Government to make a public apology for "50 years of suffering." As the 50th anniversary approaches this summer, Apologise for Summerland is calling for an historical apology from the Isle of Man government for its role in an "avoidable tragedy".
In a campaign backed by a cross-party group of MPs and by Grenfell United, the pressure group made up of families of victims and survivors of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, Apologise for Summerland is calling for the Isle of Man government to make a public apology for the "disregard for basic fire safety in favour of saving money and speedy construction," a public apology for "the pain and suffering for the last 50 years" and a public admission that the death by misadventure verdict was "inappropriate."
Jackie Hallam, then 13, from Huddersfield, was badly burnt and lost her mother, Lorna and best friend Jane Tallon, 13, in the fire. She said: "I lost the two most important people to me in my life, at that time.
"For 49 years I didn't speak about the details of what happened - not even to my family. I was recovering from injury, dealing with unspeakable loss and grief and trying to pick up the pieces of my life.
"Now is the time to speak out and get justice for mum and Jane's sake, and for the sake of all those who died. The verdict of 'death by misadventure' is an absolute travesty.
"Death by misadventure suggests that the person who died knew they were taking a risk, like bungee jumping. We didn't know we were taking a risk. We were simply using a building for the purpose intended.
"I’m fully aware that the current government cannot be held responsible for the wrongdoings of the past. But they have inherited this history and historical apologies are important to people. They provide some small degree of closure."
Heather Lea, then 19, lost her younger sister June, 13, and both parents, Richard and Elizabeth, in the fire. She said: "We don’t feel that it’s ever been recognised that 50 people lost their lives. I’ve lost 50 years of having my sister. Would she have had a family?
"It was only 40 years after the fire that I could face visiting the Isle of Man. When we went to the memorial event for the 40th anniversary it was all dignitaries with a chain of honours and uniforms.
"I didn’t see them approach one of the family members and say sorry for what happened. That was so hurtful, I won’t be able to attend this year. We’ve recently found out that my sister, mum and dad are the only Summerland victims mentioned in the remembrance book at the crematorium on the island, and that’s only because my family paid for the entry. How can that be right?
"All the names should have been respectfully recorded there. The fire was never mentioned in our house. We had two very good friends who took on the role of surrogate grandparents to our children. My daughters were in their teens, 14 or 15 years old, before they realised that their real grandparents had died in the fire. It was a fire that should never have happened.
"I feel so sorry for the people of Grenfell. If the reports had been acted upon from the Summerland fire, Grenfell probably wouldn’t have happened. You can’t brush something like that under the carpet anymore."
Grenfell United is supporting the campaign. They said: "For 50 years, families of the Summerland disaster have had to live knowing their loved ones' deaths were avoidable. Regulation rules were bent, corporates used deadly materials known to be a risk, the fire alarm didn't sound. Yet a verdict of death by misadventure was issued and no one was held accountable. The similarities between Summerland and Grenfell are chilling. This is a pattern. A system built to prevent those responsible being brought to justice. We stand in solidarity with the Summerland families and their campaign for a public apology. Your fight is our fight."
Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley said: "I want to commend the fantastic work being done by the Apologise for Summerland campaign in seeking to help the survivors and all those affected, feel that justice has finally been served.
"My constituent Jackie has had her life irrevocably changed, and she has my full support and admiration for the campaign she is carrying out. I would like to reaffirm my support and that of my fellow MPs that we will continue to support this campaign and our constituents as they seek justice."
The Liverpool ECHO contacted the Isle of Man Government. In response, a spokesman said: "The strength of feeling felt by survivors and victims’ relatives on the 50th anniversary of this terrible tragedy is recognised and appreciated.
"Our thoughts go to all those with a connection to the disaster and we join them in using the milestone as a time to reflect on its enduring legacy. The Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan MHK, this week announced his intention to provide a statement to Tynwald, the Island’s parliament, at the sitting on Tuesday 18 July."
In a statement, the Chief Minister recently said: "The 50th anniversary is a milestone that must be appropriately observed. We have a duty to acknowledge the events of that night and its enduring effects, and to provide younger generations with a meaningful perspective."
The sitting and statement will precede the Isle of Man Government’s National Service of Remembrance to be held on Sunday July 30 at St George’s Church in Douglas. Open to all, the event will be an opportunity to pay tribute to those who died, survived or responded to the fire.
The Isle of Man Government is now reaching out to survivors and victims’ relatives who may wish to attend or be involved. Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK said: "The Summerland Fire resulted in the loss of 50 lives and continues to resonate for survivors and the relatives of those who died.
"As our island prepares to mark the 50th anniversary, we are inviting those people to get in touch to hear about and discuss how the island intends to commemorate that tragic night. The disaster casts a long shadow both for those who remember it and the generations who have learned about it during the past half-century.
"The National Service of Remembrance will symbolise a nation’s enduring regret and it’s hoped many of those directly affected will be present from both on and off-island. Even if people are unable to attend in person, or would prefer not to, they are invited to make contact and allow the team to tell them about the event and other tributes.’"
In addition to the National Service of Remembrance, a presentation will be made to the emergency and hospital services on Monday 31 July in recognition of their response to the disaster and supporting those affected. An online exhibition ‘Remembering Summerland’ created by Manx National Heritage will also launch in July and include archive materials, filmed interviews and oral testimonies collected by Culture Vannin.
To get in touch with the Isle of Man Government regarding this, email summerland50@gov.im or call +44 1624 685706.
For more information on the Apologise for Summerland campaign, contact apologiseforsummerland@gmail.com. The Apologise For Summerland campaign can also be found on Twitter via @thesummerland50 and on their Facebook page, called Apologise for Summerland Campaign.
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