The unclued lights (1A, 1D, 6A/33, 13, 18, 32 and 38/24) are seven of the ‘Twelve Curious CUSTOMS Worth Reviving’, as listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize J. Bielawski, Liverpool Runners-up Neil Mendoza, London W11; K.J. Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester
The grid quotation was from the JOURNEY OF THE MAGI (T S ELIOT). Initial letters of superfluous words spelled out ‘Heap on more wood, the wind is chill / But let it whistle where it will / We’ll keep our Christmas merry still’, from MARMION (Sir Walter SCOTT). Unclued works by these authors were the
The thematic term (formed by letters cut from definitions, 17, and letters added to definitions) is SCISSORS-AND-PASTE. Unclued lights are types of scissors (9, 25, 31, 32) and paste (1, 6D, 20, 28). First prize L. Coumbe, Benfleet, Essex Runners-up Stephen Gore, Seer Green, Bucks; C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex
The unclued lights include the words ONE to NINE which had to be entered as figures 1 to 9 in unchecked squares. First prize C.W. Hastings, Upper Woolhampton, Berks Runners-up Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire; Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland
The title suggests BACK NUMBERS (8/15). Remaining unclued lights contain ‘back numbers’: GENEVESE (1A), MARXIST (20), GENETTE (24), XENON (37), GROWTH (42) and MENINGES (43). 8 and 15 were to be shaded. First prize Margaret Lusk, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs Runners-up Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man; Anthony Harker, Cumnor Hill, Oxford
The publication is 11A. Other unclued lights are all anagrams (‘new’ versions) of scientists: 14A SEABORG; 22A EINSTEIN; 23A PASTEUR; 34A TESLA; 37A OERSTED; 38A CURIE; 1D DARWIN; 28D CELSIUS. First prize Juliet Burgess, Narberth, Pembrokeshire Runners-up Jan Hill, Brighton, East Sussex; Mike Carter, Flawith, Yorkshire
First prize Mrs M. Purdie, Ceres, Cupar, Fife Runners-up Nick Hussey, Overton, Hampshire; K. Parekh, Wayne, Illinois
The quotation was ‘IS THIS A [DAGGER] WHICH I SEE BEFORE ME’ (1/44) (Macbeth).18, 22, 2, 27, 29 and 30D are daggers. BASELARD (diagonally from the 12th row) was to be shaded. VILE STUFF suggests BASE LARD. First prize Michael Sargisson, Norwich Runners-up Brian Willis, Bicton, Australia; Deborah Davis, Sholing, Southampton
MARCOBRUNNER (11) is composed of words whose definitions are 1D, 24, 32; 13, 17, 35; and 9, 29A, 38. First prize Peter Bond, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire Runners-up Rebecca Mawle, Great Nolford, Warwickshire; Peter Maddox, Swansea
The unclued lights are CHEESES. First prize M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian Runners-up D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent; Katherine Griffin, Winchester, Hants
The thematic phrase is ‘The Waves’, shown in a wave pattern in the grid. It is the title of a novel by 29A/33; 8, 30 and 36 are types of ocean waves; 14, 16 and 32 are other types of waves. First prize Bob Wightman, Harpenden, Herts Runners-up Tony Dew, London SW13; Frank Upton, Solihull,
Unclued lights made mottoes around the rim of one-pound coins: (33) NEMO ME (12) IMPUNE (40) LACESSIT, (18) DECUS ET (34) TUTAMEN, and (13) PLEIDIOL (39) WYF I’M (4) GWLAD. First prize Tony Watson, Twyford, Berks Runners-up P. Langdale, London N11; Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants
The unclued lights are FRENCH DÉPARTEMENTS, with five of them placed in the grid at their correct administrative number: 2, 3, 25, 36, and 39. First prize Gordon Hobbs, Woodford Green, Essex Runners-up Rowan Priestman, Burpham, Guildford; J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere
The PROVERB (35) (in ODQ), associated with the KENNEDY (19) FAMILY (31), was ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’. EDIT (36) is ‘A rising tide’. WORT (9), POOLS (15D), BUT (21D), GUT (26) and LEEK (39) are ‘lifted’ boats. EDIT was to be shaded. First prize V. Kendall, Ware, Herts Runners-up Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, W.
GRASSHOPPERS (9) of ZURICH (30) is a team that plays football — not cricket, as indicated by corrections of misprints in clues. Other unclued lights are related STRIDULATING INSECTS (13 28). First prize R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, South Glos Runners-up N.J. Smithies, Guernsey; Charles McCulloch, Temple, London
The word pyramid runs from CAN at 7A, then 35, 36, 30, 5, 2, 21D, 19 to CONSIDERATE at 1A. First prize John Sparrow, Padbury, Bucks Runners-up Andreas Fabian, Dunsden, Oxon; John Newell, Kingston upon Thames
X was Ingrid Bergman, winner of a TERN (21) of OSCARs (8), who was born on 29th August 1915 and died on her 67th birthday. She appeared in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (O), ANASTASIA (O), FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS (perimeter) and GASLIGHT (O) (29). 15, 16 and 23 were to be shaded. Title: Casablanca.
1D, 3, 15D and 40 are fictional TIGERS (30) created by 20, 35, 4A and 12. Extra letters in clues form the thematically allusive statement high risk pets emerge in reports, supplying unchecked letters of the unclued lights. First prize Patricia Gibbs, Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire Runners-up E. Hogg, London SW13; Philip Hawkins, Wirksworth, Matlock, Derbyshire
The unclued lights (paired at 14/38. 23/17 and 34/2) are SPECTATOR journalists or contributors. First prize Dr David Jerwood, Keighley, W. Yorkshire Runners-up Michael Moran, Penrith, Cumbria; Trevor Evans, Drulingen, France
Edmund Clerihew Bentley wrote: The art of Biography/ Is different from Geography/ Geography is about maps/ But Biography is about chaps. First prize Val Urquhart, Butcombe, Somerset Runners-up A. Mulholland, Nottingham; Phillip Wickens, Horsham, West Sussex
