Fuller's walnut cake - UPDATE

When I was a child my mother worked in the City of London and, on special occasions, she would bring home a large and glorious Fuller’s walnut cake for tea. It was seen as a luxury and, I believe, cost a whole six shillings! An even bigger treat would have been to be taken to one of the Fuller’s tea shops and I could then sit and take in the fairly elegant surroundings, with tea and cakes served by waitresses with white pinnies and frilly headgear. In the 1950s I believe Fuller had 82 shops and continued to expand until they were finally taken over by Lyons at the end of 1968. Sadly, their cakes were last produced commercially in 1969.

This week my local cake club celebrates its first birthday and I have decided to recreate - and share with my members - my special ‘Fuller’s’ memories with the sight, taste and aroma of a Fuller’s-type walnut cake. Let’s hope that my baking skills do justice to this legendary cake! 
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UPDATE 15th May 2013: Well, my take on this famous confection has now been made and covered in American frosting this morning - here it is ready for devouring at our Clandestine Cake Club event tonight.