Thanks all, that is useful.

If restarting experiments at yr 1 is required then the plan is dead in the water but I'll take the advice on the thread above to put together a plan to commence (part-time) work and take that to postgrad admissions in the dept (who happens to be someone I knew all those years ago).

My early thoughts are to seek re-admission (on a part-time basis) for Oct this year, spend a year reviewing the state of the thesis and recovering my knowledge then start on the writing again, taking another year. I figure I can spend 10-16/hrs a week on study.

I'm still a member of the professional body that represents the subject so I'm considering reaching out to them as well to see if they can offer particular advice or help.

Thanks. Would know of any current posts I could look at? I'm interested to know just how difficult the process was to get restarted and if the candidate succeeded or gave up.

I'm interested to know if anyone thinks this is viable or has done similar.

I completed 3 years of lab work for my PhD (1997-2000), successfully transferred from MPhil to PhD after 1 year. I completed 1 chapter of my thesis in 2001 but then moved into a job and a (successful) career. Since then work, disaster, marriage, mortgage, children, ill-health and more career meant I never returned (despite my intention) to my thesis

So now 16 years later I'm at a place where I could, potentially, have the time (and money) to return to my thesis, on a part-time basis. I accept my knowledge, having worked in a completely different industry, is now very old and very rusty and I would probably need a year just to review my work and knowledge. My former supervisor has long since retired. So question is, is it even viable to write to my old University and ask them to consider re-admission for writing up? Will I be laughed at or do you think I would find a sympathetic ear?