New exhibition to ask 'hard questions' about Summerland disaster

BBC News

2 days ago

An exhibition telling the story of Summerland from Victorian times to the aftermath of a devastating fire that killed 50 people will pose some "really hard-hitting questions" about the events, organisers have said.First compiled in 2023 to commemorate half a century since the disaster, Summerland 50 – Remembering for the Future has been updated for 2025.One of the largest entertainment complexes of its kind in Europe at the time, the venue was engulfed in flames on the evening of 2 August 1973, which killed scores of people inside.Tina Brennen said although it was "not heavy", the display could challenge some "misconceptions" about the fire and help to educate people about the disaster.
The latest iteration of the exhibition includes the Justice for Summerland Campaign, which is led by relatives and survivors who have called for fresh inquests into the deaths.That application, which was submitted Phoenix Law, was rejected by the Attorney General May.However, the Northern Ireland-based human rights law firm has confirmed that decision is set to be appealed.
Tina Brennen, who is part of the group behind the exhibition, said it explored the history of the site at the north end of Douglas Promenade in the years "before, during and after" the fire.She said the site had "quite an interesting history" dating back to Victorian times, and the display went on to cover why the complex was built in the 1970s, the fire itself, and its aftermath, including the inquiry into the events and current campaign."It's not something you can go round and see in half an hour and be done, it's quite comprehensive," she said."It's for people to make up their own minds, we're not there to influence them, we just give the facts and ask the questions.""There's so many misconceptions about Summerland and about the fire itself, so we've simply given the facts in this case and hopefully people will come to their own conclusions."They could go away with quite different conclusions to the set they came in with."
Ms Brennen, who witnessed the disaster unfold in 1973, said there were "lots of reasons" for holding the exhibition, including "remembering it so that it doesn't happen again"."It's also a question of education for not just my generation and older generations, but for particularly the younger generation," she said."The young people that came last time were absolutely astounded as to what they saw and read, and some were quite affected by it."So it gives them a perspective on it because this is 52 years ago now, a whole generation had grown up not knowing the first Summerland."Their thinking was coloured by the second Summerland, which is an entirely different concept."
Ms Brennen, who has been a long-time campaigner for a memorial on the site of the former entertainment complex, is also part of the team behind an annual service at the vacant plot to remember the victims.That commemoration takes place at 19:00 at the Summerland site and will include a "wall of faces" put together by local firm ELS featuring some of the faces of those who lost their lives in the tragedy along with friends and relatives of those who died.The service, held to coincide with the time the fire took hold, also features a wreath laying ceremony along with music provided by Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums.Douglas Council's own service, taking place at the local authority's official memorial in the Kaye Memorial Gardens, starts at 18:45.The Summerland 50 – Remembering for the Future exhibition is open from 10:00 until 16:00 BST each day until 9 August at the Villa Marina Arcade on Harris Promenade in Douglas.
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