Hi Stephen,
Yes, everything *does* work if I delete and create the database afresh prior to importing - I see all my lists, with the correct memberships, settings etc.
I was afraid that by removing the default database that comes with the database container, I'd be losing some vital information that may have been added or changed in the database config since I first got my production server working 2 years ago - changed field values, extra table columns ... ? Does that make any sense? I've a hazy understanding at best of the minutiae of databases, being honest.
I had actually started to mull over creating all my lists afresh on the new server, and populating them using scripting/mailmanclient, but I'm now encouraged by your answer :-) - so maybe I'll just wipe and recreate mailmandb, and then do the import.
Thanks a lot for your reply Stephen