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On 9 June 597 St Columba died in Iona.

Born in present-day Donegal, Columba moved to Scotland after victory over the Irish king Dermott at the battle of Cooldrevny in 561. His spritual father, St Molaisi, commanded that Columba perform the penance of bringing as many souls to the Church as he had caused to die. Two years later Columba founded a monastery on Iona which was to become one of the leading centres of Christianity in Western Europe, and the base from which Columba launched his successful mission to convert the Pictish nation.

In this day in 1573, William Maitland, Scottish statesman, died. Known as "Secretary Maitland", he was Mary, Queen of Scots' Secretary of State, and one of the country's ablest administrators. He sought to bring about the union of England and Scotland through the recognition of Mary as Elizabeth I's heir.

Today's recipe: this makes for a seasonal, sophisticated fish supper.