Not being a huge fan of pastry, I prefer a crumble to a pie, but still enjoy it with a piece of Wensleydale. I make it either with Bramleys, of which I always have a glut, or with James Grieves, which are earlier than Bramleys but don't keep.

MGM, The Worcester Pearmain was the favourite of my late friend, the author and environmentalist, Roger Deakin, who, as a founder of Common Ground, created the idea of an Apple Day. It's no longer a popular commercial apple as it doesn't keep well. Like Mo, my favourite 'keeper' is Kidd's Orange Red or Darcy Spice, but I never get much of a crop of these where I live.