Just reporting in. All seems well and the knocking is all gone.
A good tip for a priming tool for the oil pump is the shaft of one of your dad's golf clubs. Take off rubbery handle and shorten to preferred length and then nip it in the vice. It can be long enough so it doesn't foul any pipes and you can stand on the bumper while the neighbours look at you. 2 mins and pump is primed.
Of note though, I took a ciggy out my top pocket and a nut fell out and disappeared down the dizzy hole. Sigh, off with the sump again and I coaxed it out with a strong magnet.
Thanks as always, it's all really appreciated. It helps keep another Classic on the road.