The Commission

Image © The Waterways Trust and The Waterways Archive

Alan's narrow boat is the 'Dover' - a 1937, Town Class, large Woolwich motorboat, which is 71.6 foot long and was commissioned by the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company, as part of a rapid expansion plan of their canal carrying arm. The Dover was one of 24 Town class motorboats built by Harland & Wolff.

Harland & Wolff also built the Titanic, but that was at their Belfast yard. Dover was built in their North Woolwich yard on the Thames. The Dover cost around £900 and was delivered on the 26th February 1937. The Dover's Fleet number was 136.

By 1938, the G.U.C.C. Co. fleet had expanded to 374 narrow boats, but not all were operated at the same time, partly because of the shortage of crews. However, the fleet was generally busy and successful.