SAILING BARGE WILL (S.B. Will) - a vintage ceramic plaque issued by Overseas Containers Limited (c.1970s). 3.5" (90mm) diameter.

Postage is extra.

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For sale is an unusual ceramic plaque issued by Overseas Containers Ltd (OCL) and showing the Sailing Barge Will (S.B. Will). The rust-red sails is characteristic of Thames sailing barges and the green livery reflects the corporate colour of OCL.

S. B. Will is a Thames sailing barge, commissioned by Frederick T. Everard (F. T. Everard & Sons Ltd of Greenhithe, builders of Thames sailing barges) and built in Great Yarmouth by Fellows & Co in 1925. Originally named as Will Everard, she was one of four steel Thames barges built for coastal sailing and the largest of the four, with each barge being named after a member of the Everard family. S. B. Will Everard retired as a working barge in 1966 and was sold to Vernon Harvey who renamed her “S. B. Will”. Will lay derelict for a few years before being bought by the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) and given a new lease of life after undergoing a major refit to begin a new life in corporate and private-group hospitality that continues to this day (as at 2025).

Overseas Containers Limited (OCL) was a container shipping company formed by a consortium of four British shipping companies in 1965. OCL was taken over by P&O Containers in 1986.

1925 Built by Fellows & Company of Yarmouth for Frederick T. Everard.

1940 Participated in the evacuation of Dunkirk (WW2).

1966 Overseas Containers Ltd formed from four British container shipping companies.

1950 An auxiliary engine fitted.

1966 Retired from work and sold to Vernon Harvey for £750 and who renamed her as “S. B. Will”.

1966 to 1976 S. B. Will lay in storage and during that time was re-rigged by John Hobbins.

1976 Sold to Overseas Containers Ltd (OCL) who repainted her in a green livery, as seen on this plaque.

1986 Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) took ownership of S. B. Will after they took over control of OCL. About this time her livery was changed from green to blue and was converted to a floating boardroom and dining room for entertaining.

1996 S. B. Will enrolled into the UK’s National Historic Ships Register as vessel number 234, showing her continuing importance for national maritime heritage.

1999 S. B. Will’s skipper of seventeen years, Sue Harrison, purchased the barge.

2004 S. B. Will sold on to Mark Tower of Topsail Events who continued her work in corporate and private-group hospitality.

2006 Livery repainted to the original grey hull with gold sheer line.

2018 Run by Thames Leisure out of London Pool.

2020 S. B. Will bought and operated as Thames Barge Will (Will Charter Ltd.) to continue her work in corporate and private-group hospitality.

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References:

https://thamesbargewill.com/about/ (Thames Barge Will company – history of S. B. Will).

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/234/will (National Historic Ships website – about S. B. Will).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_(Thames_barge )

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/thames-barge-sailing-history-essex-8pbqzlm05 (The Times newspaper - article and a short video about sailing on a Thames barge).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_sailing_barge (About the Thames sailing barges).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_Containers (Overseas Containers Limited).

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DESCRIPTION:
Size: about 3 1/2" diameter (90mm).
Material(s): white light earthenware.
Finish: design embossed & printed in 4 colours over a thick glaze. Reverse side unglazed..
Imprint: none.
Approximate age: 1976 to 1986.

CONDITION:
Good condition. There is an edge knock about the 7 o/c position resulting a bit white glaze missing - hence the low selling price. The other bit of edge glaze missing about the 6:30 o/c position is a manufacturing blemish.
Please see photograph(s), these form part of the description.

POSTAGE:
* Postal costs are extra, additional to the Asking Price.
* I always get a proof-of-posting certificate.
* I combine postal costs for multiple items when these are paid for and posted the same time.

RETURNS:
* Return accepted if the item(s) is returned in same condition it left me, then the full Agreed Asking Price will be refunded. Postal costs are not refundable.
* Buyer pays the return postal costs - unless agreed otherwise.

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