Welcome to the forum Mathew. Firstly, I think you may have made an error with your username... you won't be a novice forever!

Where in South Wales are you? I'm in Brecon and celticcrusader is in Merthyr. I'm sure he'll be along soon...

Before spending any money, read everything you can on here about SRs, strops, creams and brushes. They will be the very basics you need. There are so many to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming if you're not absolutely certain what you want. Obviously, it also depends how much you want to spend. The Invisible Edge have some nice items. There are countless places to buy creams or soaps and brushes.

A Boker King Cutter would make a great first razor and they're very reasonably priced.

It's a steep and long learning curve Mathew, but once on it, you'll love it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Good luck mate.