Like I say though, I think I may have made it sound worse than it was in my overly panicked initial post
There are no kinks in the chain, just a few of the links didn't move that freely at first when I tried moving them by hand with a cold chain... but after a few minutes riding and warming the chain up it feels as loose as it always did to be honest. That said, there is quite a lot of surface rust, so I'll wait to see what the mechanic says to see if I got away with it or not... fingers crossed!
Thanks Strommer! I don't mind getting the mechanics to fit the Scottoiler though, they've already got it on order for me anyway... plus they can fit a new chain at the same time if it turns out it does need one and I can get it all done in one hit. I may seek your advice at some point (in return for a pint or coffee or something of course!) on Scottoiler flow rates and suchlike if I can't figure it out though if that's OK? I'm in the Battersea area... but, have Strom, will travel