Am I a British Citizen?

Hi, I'm sure these questions get asked all the time. I've researched for a few hours now and my head is just spinning at the bredth of information that I have received and I'm trying to wrap my head around.

I'm hoping someone here can give me a direct answer for my situation.

I was born in 1979 in Montreal, Canada to a Canadian born mother and an English born father.

In 1983 we moved to England and remained there until November 1988. During this time I as enrolled in the public school system, and received all other services a traditional citizen would.

My father died in 1991, which I fear may complicate some things (perhaps not).

Am I a British Citizen or do I need to start applying for Citizenship under the basis of ancestry?

I'm completing my final years of University and am hoping to teach in England for a few years at least and would rather not go through the hassle of temporary visas if I'm obviouly already a citizen. However, a quick visit to the UK Immigration site has me scared at the cost of the processing fees if I'm not already "on the books" so to speak.

Thanks to anyone who can help me!

-- Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:10 pm --

Maybe just to clarify I should state that my father was still a UK resident well into his 30's if that matters at all.

You are and always have been a UK citizen by descent, based on your father being born in UK, and his being married to your mother at the time of your birth, or anytime thereafter.

Nothing else about his life or yours alters this.

Ok, so as a follow-up query.

Assuming that I'm now in some kind of system. What is the best way to go about obtaining proof of citizenship?

Submit C1 application for UK passport. You are not in any system.