Clio had crossed my mind Stu. I think the rules will be; £2-3K, pref. small, cos of the narrow roads, although i was thinking about how an auto might not be too bad either, as it'll take an hour each way easily.
Off the top of my head:
MX5
Clio 172
Various Alfas! 147+156 autos are cheap! plus i found this: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2062686.htm
Ford Puma (suprisingly cheap and plentyful actually)
Smart roadster (too expensive, but inexplicably appealing!)
Maybe giving way in the future to S1 Elise / MR2 a la Stan? or something cheap and thrashable like a Fiat 500/better Clio
Of course, I havent even got the job yet!