people and organisations, including Prince Charles who was going through his investiture at the time, to find help in preserving the tug, but to no avail. In the late 1970s the two other investors pulled out after some vandals went aboard in the night and opened the seacocks, scuttling the tug. This event cost the consortium more than £1,400 to re-float the boat. Barrett Great Wyrley continued alone until 1981 when, because of a financial crisis, he decided he too must pull out and let someone else take over as custodian. In 1981 Charles Phillips Auctioneers auctioned the tug from outside Barrett Great Wyrley's home at Sneyd Farm Essington. Bristol Museums & Art Gallery bought her and her towed back to the city where she was built. Over the next six years Mayflower was restored to working order by a team of volunteers, and she steamed again in 1987. Early in 1988, she steamed back to Gloucester on a courtesy visit. Mayflower regularly steams during the summer months carrying visitors on trips in Bristol Harbour. She marked her 150th anniversary in May 2011. In May 2021 Mayflower was returned to service after her boiler was re-tubed. References External links Mayflower at the Register of National Historic Ships Steam tugs Tugboats of the United Kingdom Bristol Industrial Museum 1861 ships Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet Museum ships in the United Kingdom