Thank You all for the above.
It just unsettled me and I thought one thing I could do was head to a more built up area (Town) like Gravesend - as the thermals are less pronounced over built up areas than flat plain terrain?
Also I wonder if my 'thought process' of taking less Angle of Bank to turn in rough conditions instead of the 30 degrees is sound? I kept the focus on keeping ailerons neutral at most times to settle my nerves.