It was from this boat that the scheme for training women to man narrow boats arose.
Heather Bell was built for C. March in 1937 but was sold to Wyvern Shipping in 1954. She was steered by Fred and Sarah Rice and carried cargoes subcontracted from Samuel Barlow, including coal to Wander’s Ovaltine works at Kings Langley, Kearley & Tonge at Southall and The British Paper Mill on the River Gade at Frogmore.