I have tried this restore process again and have been able to restore the database to the backup machine correctly this time (I think this is a hit and miss affair as sometimes it works and sometimes it does not).

Once the database has been restored, how can we apply the archive logs to roll the database forward in time so it is closer to the live server?

Trying the recover database gives no recovery required.
Trying the recover database using backup controlfile until change XXX;
comes back with wanting a SCN file that has already been applied.
ORA-00279: Change xxxx generated at xxxx needed for thread 1
ORA-00289: Suggestion: xxx.log
ORA-00280: Change xxxx for thread 1 is in seq #xxx
Specify log: {=suggested | filename | AUTO | CANCEL}
ORA-00326: log begins at change xxx, need earlier change xxx
ORA-00334: archived log: xxx.log