Bon voyage! Ferry operators celebrate 88 years at sea with heritage driving trail around Isle of Wight

A team of renowned Isle of Wight ferry operators are delighted to be celebrating their 88th anniversary under the Red Funnel name.

Although the company is officially 162 years old, the brand only came about in 1935 when ‘Red Funnel Steamers’ replaced the less-than-catchy ‘Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited’.

To celebrate the anniversary, Red Funnel has opened an Isle of Wight heritage driving trail, allowing people to uncover the Isle’s heritage by car. 

Along the trail are celebrations of a number of milestone anniversaries, including Britain’s oldest theme park, a telephone box, a pier, a carnival, and the former residence of Queen Victoria, Osborne House. 

Red Funnel ferries connect millions of passengers between Southampton and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.  

Keep reading for a selection of milestones from the company’s long and storied history.

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1820

George Ward and William Fitzhugh of Cowes establishes the Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, the first steamer service between Cowes and Southampton.

1860

A new company, the Southampton, Isle of Wight & Portsmouth Improved Steamboat Company is in March 1860 and brings 2 modern steam deck saloon steamers into service the following year.

1885

The Company branches into tug ownership by purchasing the New Southampton Steam Towing Company, an activity that plays a major part in its success.

1908

The Bournemouth & South Coast Steam Packets Ltd is purchased and considerably strengthens the Company’s scheduled and excursion services to the west.

1914  (World War I)

A proportion of the fleet is requisitioned by the armed forces. The PS Princess Mary and the PS Stirling Castle are lost in action.

1935

The famous red funnel and black top is uniformly adopted across the entire fleet and the abbreviated name, Red Funnel is born.

1939  (World War II)

Much of the fleet is pressed into military service and losses are suffered. The PS Gracie Fields, PS Her Majesty and the tug, Sir Bevois, were lost in action, and the PS Lorna Doone and the PS Balmoral return in such poor condition that they have to be scrapped.

1946

Red Funnel purchases the Bournemouth operator, ship builder, repairer and engineering firm Cosens & Co Ltd, after rumour of a rival take-over.

1968

Red Funnel acquires ownership of shipping and transport firm, Vectis Transport Ltd.

1991

A £3m investment in two ground-breaking Hi-Speed catamarans revolutionises high speed travel. Two hydrofoils are sold and vehicle ferry services into West Cowes are discontinued.

1999

Red Funnel Distribution is launched to handle the Group’s drop trailer business and FMCG contracts.

2006

Red Funnel launches the Steam Coffee Company, its new coffee brand.

2011

The company celebrates its 150th anniversary and commissions Keith Adams to write the book ‘Red Funnel 150’ to mark the occasion. In the same year an updated website is launched. The freight business is re-structured and Red Funnel Distribution is sold to Steve Porter Transport Ltd.

2016

Red Jet 6, the first Hi-Speed vessel of its kind to be built in the UK for sixteen years, was named by HRH Princess Royal and entered service in July 2016

• redfunnel.co.uk