Great story, sycamore.
I flew once at night at Redhill, with Don L in his Ambassadeur, about 12 years before. your story. Don flew a couple of circuits, then let me have a go. At 400ft on finals all our nav and instrument lights went out - it transpired a fuse had blown. Don took back control, went round again, and landed safely, while I held a torch to illuminate the instruments. Fairly trivial, but quite exciting at the time!
Incidentally, my kids bought me a ride in 'CDC at Damyns Hall for my 80th birthday a couple of years ago, 58 years after I'd done my initial test to join the Club in the same aircraft.
--Tim L