Filling and bleeding cooling systems varies from car to car and can be difficult.

Start with a cold engine and the coolant filled to the normal level. Leave the filler cap off and run the engine until it's warm - keeping a close eye on the level and topping up as necessary, then refit cap.

It can be much more involved than this and it would be worth looking to see if there's an owners forum with specific information.

Don't continue to use the car with the temp going in to the red, as the head gasket or head itself may be damaged.

As stated above get the fans checked out.

From my younger days, when i used radweld a number of times, thermostats and pumps were not affected.

How times have changed, my first car had neither thermostat or even a water pump!

So did my Riley Nine (1929). It had a coolant system taking around 3 gallons of water ! Lots of antifreeze..

1939 Ford Prefect, wipers stopped when you put your foot down!

So did Consuls and Zephyr/Zodiacs until 1962 when the MkIII version had electric wipers. I think the side valve 100E small saloons also had vacuum wipers, 105E Anglias were electric.

I had a 1966 Ford Thames 400E and got fed up with not being able see well in the wet. Went straight out and bought the electric wiper motor for the Diesel version - did another 95,000 miles it so got my money's worth!