I am not about to commence serious IFR flying but would like to be able to fly on instruments in cloud if the weather deteriorates
Pardon?
Flying on instruments in cloud is very very , like deadly, serious.
Learn it right and do it right, stay current and proficient in identifying and handling instrument failures or stay VFR at all times (if that means not flying on iffy VFR days so be it).
If that seems a hard line try exiting a cloud with the wing coming off, because thats how "inadvertent" VMC into IMC very predictably ends - often very quickly after entering the cloud. Sadly plenty of accident reports to illustrate that reality.