Hi DP. Thanks for the info.
I checked the pipe temp out the boiler; on heating pipe just beneath the 3 way valve (it is on heating only at present) and at the first fully open rad feed (bathroom) and the temps were very similar. I did the same for the returns and it was the same story - albeit a lower temp generally as you'd expect. I also checked the last rad on the loop before it goes back to the boiler and the same applied, although there was a general temp drop of i'd estimate, a few degrees.
For the record, things are properly hot now where the trvs haven't shut the rads down, but it's worthy of note that whilst things got warm in an hour this morning, to get to what we would consider proper operating temp, has taken nearer five hours.
At no point has the boiler noticeably modulated, with the exception of when I put the water on when it flared up a while then shut down for a minute, then returned to what i'm calling tickover.
I tried the room stat direct to the 230v and 24 side of the boiler, but it didn't like it. My stat has 3 wires, one of which goes to the 3 way valve via the control centre. Without this the boiler and pump ran, but the valve didn't actuate.
I wasn't aware you could wire the valve and timer direct to the boiler. What would be the advantages of that over the current setup?
My dad's dropping my infrared thermometer off tomorrow so i'll be able to gather more accurate data then I hope.
Thanks again
G