Thanks guys for your replies. I'm glad that I've sparked off a healthy disussion on this one.
I suppose the bottom line is "if in doubt shout" and don't take anything for granted.
BTW Dave, I too find the instructors in Ards very obliging and I usually do pick their brains when I'm there on a Saturday.
The good thing about posting on the web though is that we get a feel for how things operate from a broader spectrum of our colleagues in both the south and the mainland. Sometimes ATC can be a bit colloquial and of course I don't mean that procedures differ.
For example the text books would say that you can fly at 2100ft without clearance if CAS is from ground to 2000ft, however, good manners would suggest that you still look for a clearance.
Martin.