Wheaten Bannock

I do enjoy wheaten bread.

It's particularly popular here in Ulster, though many wheaten loaves or bannocks sold in the supermarkets don't enthuse me at all.

I decided to make my own.

I have been experimenting with various recipes and I think I've found a good one.

For this recipe I use a greased (buttered) baking-sheet.

Heat the oven to 200º C.

• 280g coarse wholemeal flour (the coarser the better)
• 20g rolled jumbo oat flakes
• 1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 25g caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp treacle
• 270ml buttermilk

Measure the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them.

Pour the treacle into the buttermilk and mix in another bowl or dish.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk and treacle.

Mix well with a wooden spoon.

With your hands make the mixture into a round and place carefully on to the baking-sheet.

Cut a deep cross on it.

Sprinkle the top with wholemeal flour (I often forget to do this).

Bake for about 40 minutes.

Remove from the oven, brush with melted butter and allow to cool on a cooling-rack.

Campbell Dinner

I had the most enjoyable evening last night. An old pal, NCS, picked me up at Belmont GHQ and took me the short distance to that venerable academic institution, Campbell College.

There were a couple of stinkers at Campbell during my time, though thankfully they weren't there last night.

It was such a glorious evening that some of the former staff and guests were standing in the quadrangle, drinking Pimm's.

I leapt out of NCJ's car and joined Keith and a few others.

The refreshing glass of Pimm's was duly collected at a side table.

A waiter offered delicious little canapés from a large tray.

It was truly a pleasure to meet my friend and teacher, Johnny Knox.

Johnny - Mr Knox as I knew him when I was a pupil - and his wife chatted with me in the warm sunshine.

After a while we all moved in to the Dining Hall.

Keith introduced me to the Headmaster, Robert Robinson MBE BSc. I can recall apprising him that my Number was "SIX ONE TWO EIGHT".

My name was on a place-card and I sat opposite Keith.

Johnny and Mrs Knox sat within roll-throwing distance.

This was a formal dinner, of course, and the meal was first-rate.

The main course comprised perfectly cooked salmon.

I wish I'd taken a few photographs: my camera was in my pocket, though I was enjoying myself so much that I was oblivious to it.

Keith very kindly gave me a lift home.

Norwood Tower Appeal

I'm seeking photographs of Norwood Tower.

If any readers can help, or are in contact with the Hendersons or Musgraves, that could be useful.

I gather that a few members of the Musgrave family, including the present Baronet, live in Syros, Greece.

Prince Edward Visit

THE EARL OF WESSEX, Patron, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, attended Day Three of the Balmoral Show at Balmoral Park, Maze, County Down.

His Royal Highness was attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David Lindsay.

TRH in Northern Ireland

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall yesterday morning attended the official opening of the Northern Ireland Police Memorial Garden, Knock Road, Belfast, and were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast, Mrs Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE.

Their Royal Highnesses later visited the Market Square, Dromore, County Down, and were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mr David Lindsay.

Her Royal Highness afterwards opened Dromore Central Primary School, Mossvale Road, Dromore.

This concluded Their Royal Highnesses' visit to Northern Ireland.

Royal Visit

THE PRINCE OF WALES and The Duchess of Cornwall this afternoon visited Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, County Londonderry, and were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry (Mr Denis Desmond CBE).

Their Royal Highnesses afterwards visited the North West Cancer Centre, Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Londonderry, and were received by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Londonderry (Dr Angela Garvey).

His Royal Highness later met board members and staff of Historic Royal Palaces at Hillsborough Castle, County Down.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall later evening attended a Concert at Hillsborough Castle.

Mount Stewart Trip

I have spent a glorious morning at the National Trust's Mount Stewart estate on the Ards Peninsula, County Down.

Arriving about nine-thirty, I parked the two-seater in the grass car-park and went for a good walk through the heavily wooded grounds.

A new track has been opened, past "The Folly" and along the glen.

It was sunny and bone-dry.

Eventually I emerged at the old piggery, where I continued my walk uphill and onwards to the Temple of the Winds.

Place setting for Sir Winston Churchill

Back at the visitor reception area I reserved a guided tour of the mansion house at eleven-thirty, which gave me ample time to admire the formal gardens.

The house tour proved to be particularly interesting and informative.

We were, I gather, fortunate to see the private chapel, which seems to have seating for about eighty worshippers.

The walls are adorned with banners of Knights of the Garter, an honour bestowed upon several of the Marquesses of Londonderry.

Also on display, in a silverware room off the central hall, were insignia of various orders of chivalry including the star of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick (KP).

I lunched in the tea-room and ate a very good prawn salad, with a pot of tea.