A documentary by Granada Television exploring the Summerland disaster in the Isle of Man has launched on ITVX today (Thursday 1st February).
‘Summerland: The Forgotten Disaster’ tells the story of survivors, bereaved families and eyewitnesses, still feeling the lasting effects of the fire 50 years on from the tragedy.
It begins by outlining why the leisure complex was originally built, followed by an elaborate account of the night of the fire, told by those who were there.
Jackie Hallam was trapped inside the leisure complex at just thirteen years old.
Jackie lost her mum Lorna Norton and best friend Jane Tallon to the fire.
The documentary has been produced by Granada’s Isle of Man news reporter Joshua Stokes, who has followed Jackie’s journey back to the island, as she makes a traumatic return to the Summerland site – the first in 50 years.
The second half of the documentary focuses on the lingering injustice felt by some who believe the catastrophe has never truly been recognised.
An inquiry into the Summerland fire concluded that a number of ‘human errors’ led to the blaze, but ‘no villains’ were singled out.
Death by Misadventure
A ‘death by misadventure’ verdict was given to all those who died in the blaze.
A campaign group, formed of Jackie Hallam and other survivors and bereaved families, are fighting to overturn the verdicts.
Jackie said: “How could they have come to the conclusion of death by misadventure? There is nothing. We did nothing. We took no risk. Going into a building to use it for the purpose for which it was built. I’m just appalled, appalled that the deaths of my mum and my friend and so many others were just written off in that way.”
I’m just appalled, appalled that the deaths of my mum and my friend and so many others were just written off in that way.
Jackie Hallam
The documentary highlights how the campaign gathered momentum, by securing a debate in the House of Commons about Summerland, where MPs called on the Isle of Man Government to do more for the victims.
Apology
This led to a landmark apology from the Chief Minister, the leader of the Isle of Man Government, but fell short of a commitment to examine the verdicts.
Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan, said: “It’s not really for me to make any direction on whether I think the commission was right or wrong. It’s really hard to start pointing fingers 50 years on people without also hearing their side of the story. And, you know, for us now, I think rather than me trying to correct what somebody has said 50 years ago, it’s more appropriate for me to reflect on what I should be saying for us as a government.”
The documentary concludes on the day of the 50th anniversary.
Unable to align themselves with the government who commemorated at the official memorial, the campaign group met on the Summerland site.
Determined to fight for justice, Jackie concludes by vowing to see the verdicts overturned, after 50 years of trauma.
‘Summerland: The Forgotten Disaster’ is produced by ITV Granada Reports and presented by their Isle of Man reporter Joshua Stokes who will be talking about the making of the documentary on this evenings (February 1st) Granada Reports which airs at 6pm on ITV1.
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