Red Funnel recently invited Fred Kitching, 93, back to the Columbine shipyard at East Cowes to see the construction of the brand new Red Jet 6.
Fred started at Saunders-Roe as an apprentice at the age of just 15 and worked at the Columbine for many years on projects ranging from the construction of the UK’s Black Knight rockets, the first early hovercraft and the Saunders-Roe pioneering Skeeter helicopter.
He last worked there in 1959 and was surprised by the changes that have taken place. Gone is the sheet metal department, the works office and the classroom that used to teach the young apprentices their skills. Instead, modern day apprentices learn and practice their welding skills on small work boats being built alongside Red Jet 6. Gone too is the noise as the thousands of aluminium parts for Red Jet 6 arrive at the yard pre-cut by laser and individually numbered ready to be welded straight into position like a giant Airfix kit.
Fred said:
“It was all piece work back in those days and you had a time limit for completing each job. If you finished under the time limit you would get a £3 a week bonus. There were about 30 of us boys working here at the time and to make a bit more money we would make straps for parachutes. For every 50 that we made, we would be given half a crown and sixpence.
“I also worked on the Black Knight rockets from start to finish. They were tested at the New Needles battery and I think we made 25 in total. The bit I made was where all the electronics went.”
Fred was born and bred on the Island and has lived in St. Helens for most of his life. He also worked for Woodnut & Co building motor torpedo boats.
Fred’s son David accompanied him on the trip to the Columbine to see Red Jet 6 under construction. David said:
“This was a really special chance for Dad to come and see the return of boat building to the yard and I know he enjoyed remembering the times during his life that he spent in that building. We’re very much looking forward to the naming ceremony on 4th July.”
Kevin George, CEO of Red Funnel, said:
“We were delighted to invite Fred back to the Columbine in East Cowes to take a look at the progress of Red Jet 6 and see how the building has changed since the 1940s and 50s. Shipbuilding has always been an important industry on the Isle of Wight and we’re very proud to be building Red Jet 6 here, using the specialist local skills.”
