Looks like a conifer, podocarpus type, posssibly P. macrophyllus. Bluespruce might assist here. Going to have my tea first. If no one's added anything in an hour's time, I'll have another look. Phil J

Nah, a rethink. Have a look for Podocarpus salignus. Phil J

Philjefs, Thank you for your expert identification. All the images of Podocarpus salignus I have now seen confirm this. A local garden centre gave it to us when they were closing down and they couldn't remember its name. We originally sited it for a year or so under a laurel tree in a front border and it just remained static. We moved it over a year ago and it has thrived with a better rain supply.
Robanne

It is indeed Podocarpus salignus. We have one in the garden here. P. macrophyllus has (as it's name suggests) significantly larger leaves and is rarely seen in the UK.

This is a very beautiful, if rather tender tree native to Chile that grows rather slowly but can eventually reach large proportions.

As you say, it does benefit from lots of water through the growing season, perhaps not surprising since it's native habitat is temperate rainforest.