The solution grid includes the letter L fifty times (L x 50 = 2500). Coincidentally, Doc and his wife, Jean, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on 3 April, the publication date of the issue. First prize Elizabeth Duff, London NW5 Runners-up Jonathan Jones, Oxford; Nicholas Grogan, Purley, Surrey
The theme was C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 38A (of Scotland), 43A and 22D were all called ‘The Lion’ (see Brewer’s entry for lion); 11A, 41A and 9D are all witches; 12A, 34A and 6D are wardrobes. First prize Heather Weeks, Hove, East SussexRunners-up Michael Debenham, Shrewsbury; John Nutkins, London TW8
The unclued lights consist of the names of two countries overlapping by two or three letters: eg 25D ‘JAPANAMA’ gives ‘Japan’ and ‘Panama’. First prize Robin Simpson, Shincliffe, Durham Runners-up Kim Conchie, Falmouth, Cornwall; Mike Corballis, Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand
Six of the unclued lights are RAF stations of WW2. First prize Kathleen Durber, Stoke-on-TrentRunners-up Alison Gillam, Knotty Green, Bucks; Chris Kemp, Little Leigh, Northwich, Cheshire
The play was The Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare. The perimetric dramatis personae are MAMILLIUS, LEONTES, FLORIZEL, DORCAS, MOPSA, HERMIONE and ANTIGONUS; NODI (23) and DIPTERA (17) are anagrams of Dion and Perdita. THE WINTERS TALE (in the third row) was to be shaded. Title: ref. ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’ First prize Totty Milne, Wells,
Four unclued lights are places in Britain with MARY in their name. The remaining unclued lights can be linked with MARY (see Brewer). (Peter, Paul and Mary have been the theme words of Doc’s puzzles numbered 2489, 2492 and 2495.) First prize Simon Goodlad, Stowmarket, SuffolkRunners-up Kiran Parekh, Wayne, Illinois; Sue Matejtschuk, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts
Unclued lights are from the ‘Looking Glass’ poem Jabberwocky. First prize Alison Peck, Mathry, PembrokeshireRunners-up Patricia Gibbs, Barrow upon Soar, Leics; Stephen Charman, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
‘I WANT TO BE ALONE’ (1A) and ‘COME UP AND SEE ME SOMETIME’ (49/27) were supposedly said by Greta GARBO (17A) and Mae WEST (45) respectively. Garbo was born in STOCKHOLM (13) and West died in LOS ANGELES (10/29). Garbo starred in MATA HARI (23/38) and West in I’M NO ANGEL (19). GARBO and WEST
The solution at 1 Across includes the theme-word PAUL which means ‘little’, hence the puzzle’s title. First prize Mike Leese, Sutton Coldfield, West MidlandsRunners-up Jenny Staveley, London SW15; Robert Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire
The ten unclued lights comprise the seven primary Wombles, best known for their recycling of objects found on Wimbledon Common. First prize James Bristol, Cheltenham, GloucestershireRunners-up Susan Hay, Perton, Staffordshire; Malcolm Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian
Suggested by 30 (IKEBANA, or flower arranging), the unclued lights were all anagrams of flowers: 1A gardenia; 18 rose; 22 violet; 24 daisy; 39 lily; 45 iris; 47 orchid; 48 geranium; 8 aster; 12 freesia; 23 lupine; 25D primrose; 28 alyssum. First prize Romy Angel, Twickenham, Middlesex Runners-up Ben Stephenson, London SW12; Andrew McKie, Peterborough
All the unclued lights can be linked with PETER, 35/38 is the paired solution. First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, EssexRunners-up Bridget Workman, Purley, Surrey; Alastair Goudie, Cupar, Fife
Unclued lights were games played in I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: SOUND CHARADES, SWANEE KAZOO, CHEDDAR GORGE, PICK UP SONG and MORNINGTON CRESCENT. First prize Mike Whiteoak, Ilford, EssexRunners-up Dr Wendy Atkin, Sleaford, Lincs; Paul Elliott, London W12
The winners The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of Word Perfect by Susie Dent (John Murray) go to the following. First prize Martin Dey, Hoylandswaine, SheffieldRunners-up Victoria Sturgess, Wimborne, Dorset; David Armitage, Stockport; Elisabeth Hopkin, London SE9Additional runners-up John Boyd, Ashtead, Surrey; Dianne Parker, St Margaret’s at Cliffe,
December 12th was the birthday of Gustave FLAUBERT (1D) and Frank SINATRA (15). Examples of their work are MADAME BOVARY (13) and SALAMMBÔ (20), and FLY ME TO THE MOON (1A) and STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT (45/37). Flaubert was born in ROUEN (25), and Sinatra in HOBOKEN (in the ninth column) which was to be
Unclued lights are nicknames of works by Beethoven, born 250 years ago. The title referred to the Ghost piano trio, Op. 70/1. First prize Carlos de Pommes, Walton on Thames, SurreyRunners-up R.P. Wright, Loughton, Essex; Damian Hassan, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham
Each of the unclued lights includes the same letter three times in succession. First prize Tom Rollinson, Borehamwood, HertsRunners-up Lynn Gilchrist, Willoughby, NSW, Australia; Brian Midgley, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
The unclued lights are characters in Much Ado about Nothing. First prize Keith Norcott, Cheltenham, GlosRunners-up Mrs E. Knights, Wisbech, Cambs; P.D.H. Riddell, London SE23
Unclued lights are anagrams of animals: PRAENOMINA (1A: Pomeranian), MARTIAN (18: tamarin), LARBOARD (21: Labrador), SHORE (28: horse), PROTEIN (42: pointer), MACLE (6: camel), MENTALISM (24: Simmental), LATER (25: ratel), CREMATE (31: meercat) and MAGYAR (34: margay). The title suggests the song ‘Animal Crackers in My Soup’. First prize A.R. Wightman, Harpenden, HertsRunners-up Roderick Rhodes,
The unclued lights each contain all five vowels once only, but in different orders. First prize Dr Stephen Clarkson, Hadleigh, Suffolk Runners-up Roslyn Shapland, Ilkeston, Derbyshire; P. and D. Keating, Beeford, Yorkshire
