Some good news from way back on Page 1 of this thread.
After 6 months of tracking down the driver (who changed her phone number), being made a derisory offer by her husband, dealing with two car insurance companies (it was a hire car) neither of whom would accept liability, and multiple phone calls, letters and emails, today I've received a cheque for the full amount of damages I claimed.
Take home lesson, perseverance and refusing to be fobbed off works.
nice one. well done.