The annual service to commemorate the victims of the Summerland fire was held on Friday at the Kaye Memorial Garden.

The tragic fire at the leisure centre in 1973 killed 50 people and injured many more. Many of them were holidaymakers.

This year’s service, held by Douglas Council was led by Canon Philip Gillespie, who is the former head of the Catholic Church in the island.

Canon Gillespie said to those present: ’We remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day and we pray for those who survived, but had their lives changed.’

He also extended his thoughts to the emergency services.

Mayor of Douglas Jon Joughin told those gathered that the tragedy of August 2, 1973 ’still haunts many who were involved in any way’.

He added: ’It is right to remember the dead, and that is why Douglas Council placed this memorial here, to enable everyone to see that those whose lives were tragically cut short that night are remembered.’

In an especially poignant moment, retired firefighter Bob Kewley who had been on call in Kirk Michael on the night of the fire and attended the scene, and survivor Ruth McQuillan-Wilson shared a moment of reflection after she placed flowers on the memorial with her family supporting her.

She has previously spoken of her physical and mental scars from the fire, where she and her mother were pulled out alive by a firefighter.

The service was attended by councillors, survivors, members of the current fire service and members of the public.

Witness to the fire Tina Brennen also held her annual service on the site of Summerland.