Leaving of Liverpool
On Saturday, 7 August 1993, the Liverpool Echo carried front page news that the Royal Iris had been sold to Hertfordshire-based Parkway Leisure who had the intention of turning her into a floating nightspot in Cardiff, spending £300,000 on refurbishments. On Wednesday 10 August 1993, the Royal Iris was removed from Stanley Dock. In a two hour operation she broke free from her tow line and smashed into the dock wall twice. The Royal Iris finally left the River Mersey for the last time, under tow, on the morning of Thursday 12 August 1993, after being towed to the Pier Head for a final goodbye.
On Wednesday 10 August 1994, it was reported that a planning proposal regarding the use of the vessel had been rejected by Cardiff Council. No work had been carried out on the vessel in the preceding 12 months and berthing charges had not been paid. A spokesman for her new owners, Parkway Leisure, reported that they were 'open to offers'.
In January 1996, it was reported that a business consortium from Liverpool were in talks to bring the Royal Iris back to the Mersey and make her seaworthy again. The consortium were considering applying for National Lottery funding and launching a £1-a-head public subscription fundraising campaign. This venture ultimately did not come to fruition.
Read more about this topic: MV Royal Iris
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“Thwackum was for doing justice, and leaving mercy to Heaven.”
—Henry Fielding (1707–1754)