Early Autumn Minestrone

Name: Early Autumn Minestrone
Ingredients: 200g/7oz cannellini or borlotti beans, fresh, or dried and soaked overnight; 1 bay leaf; 1 tomato, squashed; 1 small potato, peeled; Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; Olive oil; 4 rashers smoked pancetta or bacon, chopped; 2 small red onions, peeled and finely chopped; 2 carrots, peeled and chopped; 2 sticks of celery, trimmed and chopped; 1/2 a head of fennel, chopped; 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped; A small bunch of fresh basil, leaves and stalks separated; 2 x 400g/14oz tins of good-quality plum tomatoes; 2 small courgettes (zucchini), quartered and sliced; A glass of red wine; 200g/7oz chard or spinach, washed and roughly sliced (including stalks); 565ml/1 pint chicken, ham or vegetable stock; 55g/2oz dried pasta; Extra virgin olive oil; A block of Parmesan cheese, to serve