OK, car has been in, had the gear oil changed, (also had the linkage checked and adjusted where needed, and I would add that the garage didn't charge me for this, I was quoted £207 for the intermediate service and gear oil change, and thats all I paid, so thank you
Gorse Motors)
Well, I have done 30 miles (the last 5 were possibly in excess of the national speed limit), so the gearbox and engine were well up to temperature
I went off somewhere quiet, did a few standing starts, then changed into second, and I am glad to report "so far, so good", no crunchy changes yet.
Fingers crossed, the
problem is solved