Solved?
I think I've got it solved!! A little embarassing really... while I had removed the Remember Me php code for the password, I had left the initial value code for the input field. Further, I didn't have the initial value code for the username field!!
Took me a while... but I think it's working great now.
Now on to new challenges (for me anyway!). Have to learn how to sign out and how to create the "Welcome 'User'" in the side bar!!!
Wish me luck! Thank you all for your help.