With coronavirus and tumbling stock markets dominating the news, it is sometimes easy to forget the good things which surround us every day – and one achievement we should celebrate with special cause this week is a fine pie.

Matfen village shop’s mouth-watering creations scooped a silver and a bronze at the British Pie Awards at Melton Mowbray (where else?) facing competition from nearly 900 pies from across the country.

Hearty congratulations must therefore go to the pie-makers of Matfen, and what better way to celebrate than trying a slice yourself?

According to that font of all knowledge – the internet – pies have been around since the ancient Egyptians, but it is surely on these shores where they have risen to the dizzying heights of fine cuisine.

No doubt Yorkshire will claim their growlers are the peak of perfection, while other areas of the UK have their firm favourites, but as an exiled Cornishman – and I fear I will be shot down here – I can firmly state that surrounding meat and veg with pastry was perfected in the West Country a long time ago!