7:00pm Monday 6th July 2009
By Emma Joseph
FOR holidaymakers and locals alike, trips to Mudeford Beach, Tuckton Tea Gardens, Wick and Christchurch Quay would not be the same without the Headland ferry boats.
These locally-built vessels have sailed up and down Christchurch Harbour each summer since 1934 – apart from a short break when they were required for wartime duties – and this year celebrate their 75th anniversary.
The ferries started to operate in 1910 on an ad hoc basis by their individual owners.
But in 1926 several of the owners decided to work together as a “combine” and began trading as the United Service Motor Boats. Growth in the popularity of the trade in the early 1930s led to five members of the combine, from the Stride and Elliot families, ordering the first purpose-built 50-seater ferry, the Unity.
Unity was built in 1931 at the local boatyard E F Elkins and Sons, which was sited on land now occupied by the waterside homes known as Priory Quay at Christchurch.
Its success, which was followed by Avon Belle, Avon Vanity and The Lady of Avon, lead to the development and construction of the Headland class of ferry.
Five identical craft were built to the design of naval architect Eric French, again at the Elkins yard, and the first, Headland Belle, was launched in the spring of 1934.
She was followed by Princess, Pal and Queen and then the Maid in 1935. The five members of the combine no longer had a need for Unity which was sold to a rival operator.
At the outset, the Headland boats called at the Tea Boats, which were moored harbour-side. Passengers would enjoy a leisurely walk along the beach with stunning views to the east towards the Isle of Wight or westwards up Christchurch Harbour, savouring a high tea before the return journey.
The Headland boats initially finished their day’s work by sunset and were secured for the night at their moorings opposite Christchurch Quay.
While superb for their designed role ferrying passengers up and down shallow Christchurch Harbour, the Headlands’ design meant they were inefficient at operating at sea, so their use to the Royal Navy in the Second World War was severely limited to inland waters.
Precise details of their full wartime service have proved impossible to obtain, but it seems Headland Pal and Queen operated harbour patrols at Chichester, while Headland Belle, manned by Wrens, served as a tender to the Stone Frigate HMS Mastadon – the official name for Exbury House on the Beaulieu River.
No role was found for Headland Princess as she was found to be in need of material work to the undersides of her hull.
At the end of the Second World War the craft were offered for sale back to their original owners.
Headland Ferries still operated under the name United Service Motor Boats, but the business gradually evolved into the ownership of brothers Richard and John Elliot and long-term colleague Robin Stride as the older owner operators retired, with the name shortened to simply United in 1975.
By the 1990s the trio had retirement in mind the business was sold to Allan and Alison Vincent in 1995.
Allan bought a covered vessel, the Merry Widow, during the winter of 2000 and converted the Headland Queen by the addition of a fixed stern cabin to attract passengers outside of the peak summer season.
The United title was dropped in 2005 and today the name Headland Ferries has become more widely used.
l A weekend of celebrations is planned for the 75th anniversary, with a harbour tour on Saturday, leaving Tuckton at 11am and arriving back for a barbecue lunch at 1.30pm.
An evening barbecue and firework cruise leaves Tuckton Tea Gardens at 7pm and a family fun day featuring all four Headland boats will operate the classic ferry service from Tuckton to Mudeford Beach calling at Wick Ferry and Christchurch Quay on Sunday. Details: 07718 934425.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk