A NEW terminal for Red Funnel Services on 5,511 square yards of reclaimed land between Southampton Royal Pier and Town Quay was opened July 31, 1969 by the then mayor, Hilda Kathleen Johnson.

The company’s Castle class ships and the new Seaflight hydrofoil, which operated between Southampton and Cowes, transferred to the terminal from Royal Pier. Only excursion vessels were to use the pier from this point onwards. The single-storey building offered a high standard of comfort, and its timber cladding and plate glass added much style to the waterfront.

Passengers entered through a glasssided entrance hall into a large booking hall with separate offices for Red Funnel steamers or the hydrofoil. The hall contained plenty of seating and there was also a waiting room and refreshments bar.

The mayor, who was wearing fuschia pink that day, was welcomed by Mr Payne, Red Funnel managing director.

The project that was designed to cope with the increasing passenger, car and commercial traffic cost well over £100,000. The hydrofoil used a special cantilevered berth and heavy vehicles could now be accepted and cleared from ships and onto the roads with the minimum of delay.

Mr Payne presented the mayor with a silver plate – a replica of silverware used at the time of the Armada. She then travelled to Cowes on the hydrofoil.