Thanks again.
I contacted the Turkish Embassy/Consulate/Tourist office who did not consider there to be any sort of problem and dismissed me! Nonetheless I will contact the UKPA on Monday and see if they can help - my advice from them previously was that I could travel for as long as my passport was valid . I think all this is really at the hands of the UK travel industry being fearful of having to take responsibility for me (their client) and hence the question - am I at risk of being "bumped" when I arrive at the airport - LGW - next week? First Choice Airways/Airlines (weren't they once Air 2000?).