‘Madness’ onboard Red Funnel Ferry

Despite the 2019 Isle of Wight Festival coming to an end yesterday (Monday 17th June), festival spirits were not dampened onboard Red Funnel Ferries with a surprise performance from the English ska band Madness, well known for songs such as "Baggy Trousers" and "It Must Be Love".

Crew onboard Red Funnel’s Red Falcon, who worked tirelessly over the four-day festival period taking thousands of festival goers to the Island, were treated to a surprise rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ as lead singer, Suggs and the rest of the Madness group serenaded Red Funnel Ferries' Captain, Alice Duncan while they crossed the Solent from Southampton to perform on the main stage on Sunday 16th June.

Captain Alice Duncan, who has worked for Red Funnel for almost seven years and is a big fan of Madness, marked her 28th birthday during the Isle of Wight Festival. Unfortunately, Alice didn’t manage to see the 80s band perform but was instead surprised with a front row performance as Suggs and the rest of the band joined Alice on the ferry’s Bridge.

Commenting on the surprise, Red Funnel Captain, Alice Duncan said: “My dad and I are huge fans of Madness and I’m shocked and surprised that the band came up to join the crew on the Bridge to sing Happy Birthday to me. It was an amazing moment and it made up for not seeing them at this year’s festival. This will be birthday I won’t forget!”

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For further information regarding Red Funnel, please contact:

Lisa Norman or Kirsti Pawlowski at McKenna Townsend

T: 01425 472330
E: [email protected]

Editor’s note

About Red Funnel

Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.  In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and two food & beverage brands, ‘Steam Coffee Company’ and ‘ReFuel’.  The Company is a founder member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation and Red Funnel sponsors or supports most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Isle of Arts, The Red Funnel IW Literary Festival, IW Newport Jazz Festival, Isle Walk Festival, Ventnor Fringe Festival and Wolverton Manor Garden Show as well as a range of community and niche interest events. Red Funnel’s 2019 Charity of the Year is Mountbatten Hospice, Isle of Wight.

For more information visit: www.redfunnel.co.uk