Thank you both. I forgot to get an MOT 2 years ago, only realising when DVLA cancelled my road tax direct debit.
Got it in for MOT the next day, failed on handbrake and rear brakes/balance, so it had discs, pads h/brake shoes etc, but the pins 'couldn't be fitted' due to the state of the backplates.
(To be fair I knew the calipers were sticking, one side of the discs was rusty and I couldn't really blame the guy for not using penny washers or similar on a customer's car he'd have some degree of liability for).
Frankly I have no appetite for freezing my nuts off for several more days doing it myself outside in this weather unless there's no option. No compelling reason to do it now, but it probably won't pass the next MOT at the end of March without. Also has a noisy rear wheel bearing which will force the issue at some point, plus a rear drop link that''s put the tracking out / scrubbed the tyres - this IS urgent.
Suspect I'll also need to change the servo - brakes have never been sharp on this one, recently I've taken to pumping the pedal.
If it's still a keeper, I need to fit a towbar, but I'm dithering because I don't want to do that, then swap the car......
Oh well, at least I've removed the timing belt and probably coolant loss from the list.
