This was the favorite cake of the Queen Mother, gobblesser. It's a lovely dense yet light much nicer alternative to a fruit cake - that thick brick the Brits love at Christmas or covered in sweet stucco at weddings.

But you can't have the recipe for free. At it mustn't be given but sold for one shilling and the money donated to a charitable organization. So if you're planning to bake it, pop a quarter in a charity box.

Don't expect it to rise - it won't.

Serves 12-16 in oblong slices

Pour one breakfast cup of boiling water over 8 ounces of chopped dates, and add one teaspoonsful of baking soda. Let stand while the following is mixed:

8 ounces of sugar
3 ounces of butter
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla
10 ounces of plain flour
1 teaspoonful of baking soda
1/2 teaspoonful of salt
2 ounces chopped walnuts

Add all the above to the date mixture and bake for 35 minutes in a moderate oven (380F) in a 9” by 12” pan.

Topping (optional)

5 tablespoonfuls of brown sugar
2 tablespoonfuls of butter
2 tablespoonfuls of cream

Mix these ingredients together and boil for three minutes. Spread on the cake and sprinkle with more, and more finely, chopped walnuts if liked.