"do we need to open a UK bank account to do this transfer?"Still...

"do we need to open a UK bank account to do this transfer?"

Still waiting on my paperwork that enables an FX broker to action my shares on the LSE.

Know nothing about the other issues or timelines, but the answer to the above question is NO, simply because that is the whole purpose of a Foreign Exchange broker. They are qualified to trade your securities and settle accounts in foreign currencies and pass on the debt for you to pay, or credit for your benefit.

I imagine that if you wished to place a buy order, they probably require the funds to be up front unless they had authorisation to debit funds elsewhere.

If a sale order was placed, they may just take their cut (commission and fees), prior to passing on the residual proceeds.

Hope this helps.