Remembering Summerland - interviews with survivors

Summerland - 50 Years On

Wednesday, 2 August 2023 - 35 minutes

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.

Remembering Summerland - interviews with survivors

Summerland - 50 Years On

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