Hi Dave, thanks for such a speedy reply.
The paddles remain in perfect working order (after many years), but are getting pretty full of wash sludge – and the wife has asked that they be cleaned.
If it isn’t possible to remove the side paddles non-destructively, then I will look for a way of cleaning them in situ, such as by plugging their drum-facing holes and pouring into them a very hot cleaning mixture from the outside of the drum.
What do you think?