A large document which seemed to close down normaly (after many regular
saves) must not have as it came up as a recovered document when I next opened
Word. However when I click on it, it shows the first page but then hangs.
What can I do to recover it?

I am not absolutely sure this would work, but, assuming that everything is
intact in the old file, you could try this:

Open a new blank file (or a new file using the same template as the old
file), then click Insert File and select the old file, then click Insert.
Hopefully this will pull the content of the old file into the new file.

"Jers" wrote:

A large document which seemed to close down normaly (after many regular
saves) must not have as it came up as a recovered document when I next opened
Word. However when I click on it, it shows the first page but then hangs.
What can I do to recover it?