I know I have just Joined the forum, But I see an option to improve the whole forum.
If Locharber Estates goto mkportal.it and download this wonderful free package. the forum would have an interactive front end.
Also if they go to coppermine-gallery.net they will get a wonderful free Photo gallery.
They do not need to change anything in phpbb registered users will not need re register.
Now the clever bit is that Mk_portal Coppermine and phpbb merges into one complete site.

Here is a web site that I have created that will show you what I mean.
*** PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER ON THE SITE IT HAS A STRICT REGISTRATION POLICY ***
http://www.oxfordbusphotoclub.co.uk
have a look and post your comment on having it here.
If the estate wish to impliment the change I will be happy to help.

Don't know enough of the technicalities to comment but I will say that I don't like the ghastly colour mix.

The Colour is not a problem as that can be altered. It can look like what you see here or any other Colour.

I do not know enough about this to have an opinion really, and seeing as we dont have a member of staff who's job it is to run the forum, everyone just looks in on it occasionally I think it would be too complicated trying to run a different system