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The Changing 80's |
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The 1982 season was the final season for the Manxman in the service of the Steam Packet. She visited for the last time all the ports that she had been familiar with since 1955. Her final sailing to Ardrossan was on the 3rd. July, Fleetwood on August 15th, Belfast on August 27th, and Dublin on August 28th. She had often visited Workington during her career and carried out a final excursion on August 30th. The return from Douglas was in a Force 8 and she was not able to berth and had to ride out the storm in the Solway Firth. She finally got back to Workington at 09.00 hours the next day!
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The announcement on the 21st of September that the ship had been bought for further service was therefore greeted with relief by many. She had been purchased by the sports and leisure people Marda (Squash) Ltd. They were developing a new waterfront complex at Preston in the Albert Edward Dock and had paid about £100,000 for the ship. It was decided that the ship would sail to Preston under her own steam. She left her lay up berth at Birkenhead early on the morning of the 1st.of October and she berthed at the Pier Head until the 3rd. At 09.07 on that day she set sail for Preston arriving there at 12.45 and the final entry in her log reads “Finished with engines 12.48.” Over 1000 passengers had paid £12.50 for the trip but a nice touch was that beer was on sail at 1955 prices! |
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The original idea was to
use the ship as a visitor centre and a museum. The aim was to give
visitors a sense of nostalgia in the seafaring heritage of the U.K. It was
a good idea but in hindsight the Manxman could offer little of interest to
the general public; for enthusiasts it was fine.
Her days as a visitor attraction were limited. After a short while the ship closed to the public and was refurbished internally as a night club / restaurant ship and was a very successful venture until Preston Council decided that they wanted to re-develop the dock area - the Manxman had to go! |
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