On reading the above posts about the ward family I am the daughter of Jean ward who was one of George and violet wards children , Jean ward married George wain also from a boating family he was the son of George and Annie wain, there is a book about them written by their daughter Alice wain now Alice lapworth about life on the canal and growing up
called a horse a boat and you . My Nan and grandad had a number of children Ted ,les, ken, Dennis ,roy, ralph,colin, kevin ,gary Linda ,juile ,jean, rina ,tillda and Eva . They worked the canal as children and it moulded them to be the strongest of people they are today a few of the children have passed on now but the others still remain in contact with each other my mum Jean is now 75 and is fabulous for her age and still can open a lock too this day .