i gather that i have to have an EASA licence before I can revalidate my FE rating.
Quite correct however; there are a number of BCPL holders who followed the CAA advice and obtained a JAA licence prior to September 2012 and then when they tried to renew a FE Certificate, they were told that the application could not be processed unless they had an EASA licence and were then told they must pay again for a second licence conversion! If a professional person gave such bad advice you could sue them!