Thanks for the words Bugsy and thanks for the pointer to Anglian Music which I've come across before but didn't have the biog for sale at the time.
I used to live in Peterborough and someone I met there made his own instruments - A Hurdy Gurdy was his pride and joy but he made other mandolin-type things as well. He was telling me that he was asked if he could fix a guitar that belonged to the Singing Postman which he duly did but no money was forthcoming to pay for the repair. As far as I know that guitar is still in my mate's loft!

Cheers
Mark