Hello nick49 - I appreciate your input. I'm still having the same problems: if my boiler stays in for 3 days, it's a major triumph. Declinkering is now pure guesswork: sometimes it helps - loosens up the firebed (so I think) and lets air through - sometimes it makes things worse: I inadvertently pull burning coal too far forward. And as you say, it is a dull cherry red at that point, and it is pure luck whether or not it revives to a bright yellow and the fire builds up again (very, very slowly - I fear for my fan bearings!).
My supplier has assured me, after repeated prodding, that they are supplying Black Diamond grade Welsh anthracite, which is said to be the best; but an industry insider tells me my supplier buys "very little" BD fuel. I gather that "group 1" anthracite - an inferior grade - is now much more commonly sold. My options are to stick with my supplier (and keep a large stock of firelighters in the house), pay much more to another, smaller local supplier, or buy online and hope that the delivery driver can be arsed to drive down our farm lane (not guaranteed, according to the vendor: I'd call that a flawed business model myself ...).