Mr Brocklebank hears that the very first attempt to bring Britain’s only two big operational historic steam ships – ST Daniel Adamson and PS Waverley – together on the Mersey was scuppered by Liverpool Cruise Terminal management.

When DAPS, the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, asked for permission to berth Daniel Adamson on the empty landing stage to meet Waverley on a very rare visit from Scotland, the ‘helpful’ response was: “That’ll be £500, please.”

So, this seminal occasion which would have made national headlines never took place. Another own goal for the city.

Recently it’s been a financial nightmare for DAPS struggling with loss of income due to Daniel Adamson being laid up during Covid and losing at least £35,000 in cancelled bookings after being trapped in the Weaver Navigation due to a swing bridge failure.

Surely, the Cruise Terminal’s owners, Liverpool City Council, should instead offer to pay DAPS £500 for the privilege of hosting this magnificent vessel – not demand such piffling sums for an empty berth from a hard-up charity manned by volunteers, with an outcome which sinks such imaginative initiatives.

Let’s hope a little more common sense prevails if Waverley paddles south again next year.