The seven 2×2 squares each used the letters STAR in order, and depicted the seven major stars that make up the GREAT BEAR (URSA MAJOR) in THE PLOUGH (aka the BIG DIPPER). First prize D.V. Jones, Llanfair, Caereinion, Powys Runners-up Barry Roe, Wigston, Leicester; M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian
The unclued lights are the titles of the six movements of Nuits d’Eté (Summer Nights in translation) by Hector Berlioz: 38, 10/6D, 30/25, 19, 15, 12/18. First prize Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire Runners-up Richard Foden, Vesenaz, Switzerland; Mrs E.J. Simmons, North Wembley, Middlesex
The grid represents Germany, with six bordering countries round the edge, and four cities in the interior, positioned roughly appropriately in relation to each other. 21 across is an anagram of DEUTSCH, which could be added to LAND to make DEUTSCHLAND. First prize David Jenkinson, Matlock, Derbyshire Runners-up Kevin Ward, Quorn, Leicestershire; Paul Machin,
Initial letters of superfluous words in clues give nightingale, quail and cuckoo, specimens of AVIFAUNA (5) represented by FLUTE (43), OBOE (40) and TWO CLARINETS (27 18) in the SIXTH SYMPHONY (13 26D) of BEETHOVEN (14). The symphony is known as the PASTORAL (1D/41, suggested by the puzzle’s title). First prize Hugh Thomas, Ixworth,
The unclued lights are ‘nouns of assemblage’, all listed on page 6 of the Word Lover’s Miscellany section in Chambers 2011. Solvers had to shade to highlight COWARDICE (34A + 40A). First prize John Fahy, Thaxted, Essex Runners-up Mike Atkin, Butterton, Staffs; Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham
Somewhere next to GUYANA (34) and BRAZIL (12), DUTCH (33) is SPOKEN (25), the highest mountain is JULIANA TOP (1D), and the principal SYNAGOGUE (3) and MOSQUE (39) are alongside each other in PARAMARIBO (19) (the capital). ANEURISM (6), an anagram of SURINAME, was to be shaded. First prize Joyce Sleight, Steyning, West Sussex Runners-up
According to Fred HOYLE (24), SPACE is ‘only an hour’s drive away if your car could go straight upwards’ (10 13 37 and extra letters in clues). Cars fulfilling this condition are at 5, 6, 16, 21 and 33. First prize Caroline Arms, Annapolis, MD, USA Runners-up Barry Roe, Wigston, Leicester; B. Taylor, Little
The unclued lights are types of CROSS. Solver were required to indicate clearly the FYLFOT at the centre of the grid. First prize M. Purdie, Ceres, Fife Runners-up Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex; Hugh Thomas, Ixworth, Suffolk
The LITERAL QUINTET (13/22) was TERSE (37). 7A suggests ‘reest’, 40 steer, 5 stere, 6 ester, 19 trees and 26 reset. TERSE was to be shaded. The title suggests ‘teres’. First prize Gordon Fowler, Whitefield, Manchester Runners-up Richard Doye, Tuddenham, Suffolk; P.J.W. Gregson, Amersham, Bucks
Superfluous letters in definitions form the phrase HOLD THE FORT. Thematically created entries at 5, 10, 17, 19 and 38 are defined by 12, 1D, 20, 3 and 9. First prize J.P. Green, Uppingham, Rutland Runners-up Pamela Davies, Kenilworth; P.J. Hartley, Radcliffe, Manchester
The unclued lights begin with DOC (the Italian abbreviated equivalent of APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE). First prize Dennis Cotterell, Carlisle Runners-up Clare Reynolds, London SE24; Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd
The unclued lights are all CHARACTERS (18D) in Plato’s dialogues, all but SOCRATES (1A) appearing in titles. In six cells, clashing letters could be combined to form letters of the Greek alphabet (e.g. LAMB + DA = LAMBDA) — these six characters spell out the name PLATO in Greek (Πλάτων, using lower case letters, was
The three groups associated with EMPEROR (24) were MOTHS (1A, 25D, 39), PAPER SIZES (9, 16A, 44), and PENGUINS (13, 19, 43). The title suggested another grouping, STRAUSS WALTZES. First prize Sue Topham, Elston, Newark Runners-up Christine Twickel, Tidmington, Shipston on Stour; John Light, Addlestone, Surrey
The unclued lights are the surnames of people (nine of whom were botanists) who gave their names to flowers. First prize Angus Ross, Old Portsmouth, Hants Runners-up John Harcourt, Maidstone, Kent; Janet Fletcher, Johnstone, Renfrewshire
If the grid were a TIMEPIECE (13/12), the six perimetric words (GRANITE, LIMESTONE, SERPENTINE, GREYWACKE, DALRADIAN and HORNFELS) might collectively suggest ‘Rock Around the Clock’, which song was RECORDED (22) SIXTY (19) years ago, on 12th April 1954, by Bill Haley & His Comets. HALEY (eighth row) was to be shaded. First prize David
The perimeter is occupied by seven SANDPIPERS. First prize Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man Runners-up Hilda Ball, Belfast; B. Taylor, Little Lever, Bolton
The unclued lights are SIBYLS (the title was an anagram of BILLY’S with L omitted). First prize Judith Bevis, Newport, South Wales Runners-up Dr Stephen Clarkson, Ipswich, Suffolk; Geoffrey Telfer, Baildon, West Yorkshire
The MUSICAL (33) BARON (29) Lloyd-Webber’s BIRTHDAY (40) was on 22nd March; he was 66 (hence the title). His works include EVITA (16A), MEMORY (24) and ANY DREAM WILL DO (1D). WELL-BRED BOY (7/22A) is an anagram of LLOYD-WEBBER. First prize Christina March, Windsor Runners-up Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lancs; Emma Staveley, London SW15
Corrections of misprints in clues form the phrase BAIT AND SWITCH. Unclued lights are examples of bait (10, 16, 23, 38) and switch (15, 20, 31, 37). First prize Robert Hinton, Swansea Runners-up Mark Roberts, Luxembourg; Roger Sherman, Richmond, Surrey
Each letter of each solution and each unclued light has to be represented in the grid by its numerical position in the alphabet — the title, T = 20, indicated this transposition. ACROSS: 1 SEVEN 6 Peal 12 Certain 13 SIX 14 Dagger 15 Begorra 16 Vola 20 Bob 22 Betel 23 Kae 24 Dusk 26 Waifs 30 Ria
