What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[squeak]

for some time I have had a very loud high pitched rattle coming from the gearbox area in the Top Hat. No amount of feeling about when under way will quieten it. Not the reverse trigger or rod, not the gear stick.
I thought it may be the starter pinion of the bacon slicer or nearby mechanisms, so today I pulled off the bacon slicer and all looked well save a badly worn ring gear.  Decided to put back the starter as the engine will have to come out to replace the ring gear and we are leaving today for a 2000 mile trailered journey to melbourne for the centenary. The ear defenders will be taken.
I will examine the throwout bearing on my return.