Off to the nearby buy-everything-shed (aka Tuckers Country Store at reference 1) to buy a roll of duct tape, with which we taped everything back together. With additional help from our handy picnic knife. Secure if a little unsightly. Get home in one piece.
The following Monday we pay a visit to Epsom Autos on West Hill, where the mechanic peers thoughtfully at the broken assembly. After a bit we say why not just bolt the thing back on again? Fine says the mechanic. While you wait or come back in a while? We come back in a while with the result illustrated, it very neat, hardly visible to the quick glance and us very happy not to have had to shell out megabucks to the local Ford dealer. Note the traces of the top class adhesion of Tuckers' duct tape.
The only catch being, as with tooth implants, that if we bash the thing again, it might take a chunk of door with it, rather than snapping off a couple of plastic lugs. I associate also to the bull dancers of Mary Renault who arrange for their leather belts to be held by a thread which will snap when the belt is caught by by the horn of the danced on (and possibly cross) bull. Better than being tossed in the air or worse.
Then this morning a quick reality check. It looks as if a new assembly would have cost of the order of £100 from a reputable outfit, probably rather more if you want one the right colour. Alternatively, they are to be had from ebay for much less - although one would need to take care to get exactly the right model, this last being the bit that proper spares outfits are good at. There is even a clip on YouTube which purports to show you how to fix the thing on. But all in all, I think Epsom Autos was the right solution for us.
Reference 1: http://edwintucker.co.uk/stores/ashburton/#.VTcv0yFViko.
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