Regardless of whether you telephoned ahead or not, am I right in my understanding that your first RT call was on Base leg?
I don't think so. It looks like he called up first, then joined base leg then called "Established base" then got a bollicking. Lets not pick holes in the pilot with "Are you sure?" It looks like to me he did all he could.
when I plan to visit another field, ring for PPR, study the pattern , frequency, joining procedure, make sure nothings changed.
I called up and obtain the details and join on the base leg, on reporting established I'm told "who are you? I've never heared of you" I was a little surprised as I'd passed my details only minutes before, but I relayed them again.