I’d just like to point out that Madeira Cake is very high on the list of greatest cakes known to humanity. It manages to be luxuriously moist, proving far better than many inferior sponge cakes which generally prove to be dry and crumbly.

It’s not quite up there with Mille-feuille, of course, which combines several of life’s finer pleasures - Puff pastry, icing, strawberry jam and cream.