Yes, the car has indeed been garaged since not long after my original post.
Now my financial circumstances should be slowly returning to normal, so I want to get on with it.
Thanks for the additional ideas, I have looked into it and all signs point to the clutch.
I want to have ago at this myself, as I've been hankering for a 'project', as much out of curiosity as money-saving etc. I may use this as an opportunity to replace some other bits after I have it apart.
I'm wondering how much space I would need around the car for this job... I have a single garage which has plenty headroom and length but only 500mm either side of the motor when it's in. I don't really want to do this on the drive as I have kids running about and this might take me a few nights/weekends as I plod along using the odd bit of spare time. I have the option of another driveway, but this would probably limit my times to do the work, so it's not my first choice.
Tools and equipment are not really a problem, I have access to an engine hoist, axle stands and most garage tools. As for know-how... well, I've done a few tricky jobs on the car now, and I have a mechanic pal who has offered his assistance for a reasonable biscuit rate.