Bev,
as Holice already said: contact the British Quilt Guild
http://www.quiltersguild.org.uk/
I'm sure you will find contact to a local group get to know some more quilters. Some of my real "Quilting Heroes" are British and live in UK and the British Quilting History is so interesting and deversified! But of course different to the American one...
We here in Germany almost don't have a quilting history, other crafts were much more important in further times. But the number of avid quilters is still growing and I am happy about it.
I really love this board because it is a wonderful opportunity to meet other quilters around the world and to learn more about this wonderful craft. BTW, I can improve and train my English...my brother lives in Kentucky and one day I want to visit him there. Maybe in April when the Paducah Show takes place.