Remembering Summerland: Fifty years on

Calls to overturn verdict of Death by Misadventure

Today 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. 

Jackie Hallam from Huddersfield was just 12 when she escaped the Summerland fire with life-changing burns but lost her Mum and best friend in the blaze:

"To deal with one serious burn is very hard work. To deal with approximately thirty was a totally unheralded experience."

Dr Nick Batey was 38-years-old at the time and was the on-call surgeon on duty.

Reflecting back to the night, he told Manx Radio he spent three full days at the hospital treating patients:

"When I turned around there was a large black smoke cloud, rapidly increasing in size."

Robert Wilson was on a family holiday from Northern Ireland:

Death by Misadventure

As a member of the Apologise for Summerland Campaign, Jackie Hallam lobbied the Isle of Man Government to say sorry for the failings surrounding the disaster.

Now, along with the campaign group, she wants to see the verdict of 'misadventure' which was recorded at the inquest into the deaths to be changed:

"It would be an act of tremendous respect to those who lost their lives."

Robert Wilson also believes there should be a review of the inquest's verdict:

Both Jackie and Robert are due to attend the memorial services on the Island today.

So, can something be done to change the verdict of misadventure? 

It's a question Manx Radio put to Chief Minister Alfred Cannan:

The Summerland Site

A common question among campaigners is: what now for Summerland's legacy?

Tina Brennen was 19 when she witnessed the flames take hold. Recently she launched a petition, calling for something to be done with the former Summerland site to make sure the lives lost are never forgotten:

Following the disaster, changes to building regulations to improve fire safety were introduced. And a centre, reopened in June 1978 on a smaller scale, stood until its demolition in 2006.

The future of the site remains the topic of much debate. 

For now though it's a chance to remember the fifty lives lost and the many many more affected by the tragedy on this day in 1973. 

A memorial service will take place in the Kaye Memorial Garden on Queen's Promenade - you can find the details here.

A minute's-silence will be observed at the Summerland site at 7pm, where Jackie and other survivors are due to attend and speak.