Red Funnel is celebrating the 88th anniversary of the ‘Red Funnel’ brand name in 2023 and has launched a new heritage driving trail on the Island to mark the occasion.
Although the company was officially formed in 1861, it wasn’t until 1935 that the trading name “Red Funnel Steamers” was 1st adopted by the company. It was in this year – 88 years ago in 2023 – that the famous red funnel and black top was uniformly adopted across the ferry operator’s entire fleet. This marked the very beginning of the much-loved ‘Red Funnel’ brand name.
Initially named the ‘Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited’ (then Britain’s longest company name), the ferry operator is now best known by their trading name ‘Red Funnel’. Every year, Red Funnel’s ferries connect millions of passengers between Southampton and East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
To mark the anniversary, Red Funnel has launched a brand-new heritage driving trail – enabling travellers to discover the Isle of Wight’s unique heritage by car in just a few hours this summer.
There is also a plethora of other important anniversaries being celebrated on the trail – including milestones for Britain’s oldest theme park, telephone box, pier, carnival, and at Osborne House – the former royal residence of Queen Victoria.
“the much-loved ‘Red Funnel’ brand name”??? Some mistake, surely?
Absolutely no mistake!
Are Red Funnel going to do anything on the Mainland side to celebrate for Island residents.
Commonly know as a nice day trip to The Isle of Wight – before the extreme ferry prices ruined things.
Will it be on time or even cancelled due to a technical fault?
Be nice if Red Funnel celebrated with some heritage prices instead of the rip-off schedule we have today.
As long as it avoids Newtown which is a national nature reserve and neant to be stumbled upon not advertised by parasites. Says so in the Act setting it up.
Oh dear “comms trouble” “? Today so ferries cancelled.. You are on your own celebrating Red Funnel your customer base is fed up with needing to take out a mortgage for a ticket, or wafer thin excuses for cancellationsthat a 3 year old could see through.
Not very sustainable, is it?!