There's always a bodgy way to do anything. There is also a way to do a great job with hand tools, but it requires a lot of skill and patience. In the end, if you don't have the resources at home and you want a proper brake fitting, it's going to come down to paying somebody else to do the job properly or buying a new fork.
As much as there are some good solutions here (many thanks, all), I think you’re right. I have the skills to do an ok-ish job of this, but on balance I’d rather it was done properly. I reckon I’ll get myself to Argos and failing that, buy a chrome fork that looks shit with my frame :-)
There's always a bodgy way to do anything. There is also a way to do a great job with hand tools, but it requires a lot of skill and patience. In the end, if you don't have the resources at home and you want a proper brake fitting, it's going to come down to paying somebody else to do the job properly or buying a new fork.