DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH (2A), SEE AMID THE WINTER’S SNOW (118), ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY (1) and WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED (19) are the opening words of Christmas carols, as are ‘I saw three ships come sailing in’. SIGHT (53) and ROUND WINDOW (8/92) each define ‘eye’, which sounds like ‘I’; GANG (39), PIT
Answers to clues in italics are pie (13), as (15), unled (22) and heel (27). In each case it is necessary to PUT IN AN APPEARANCE (32 10) to create the grid entry. Definitions of thematic entries are 3, 16, 40 and 12. First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up A.L. James, Winchester, Hants; P.J.W.
The unclued Down lights are PLAIN Janes and the unclued Across lights are SIMPLE Simons. First prize Di Arbuthnot, Hungerford, Berkshire Runners-up Nigel Woolliscroft, Newcastle-under-Lyme; Barry Butler, Birmingham
HAL DAVID (15) and ANDY WILLIAMS (12/19) died on the 1st and 25th September 2012. The former produced the LYRICS (29) of the OSCAR (4)-winning song ‘RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD’ (1A/18/39), while the latter made a successful ALBUM (33) of the same name. First prize Christopher Bull, Fleet, Hampshire Runners-up Jason James, Cambridge;
The unclued lights (16D/21? 16D/16A/23/38/24/11/14?) form a quotation by SHYLOCK in The Merchant of Venice. A number of references to the play and its opposition between Jews and Christians were included in the clues. First prize Hilda Ball, Belfast Runners-up Philip Hawkins, Matlock, Derbyshire; Michael Debenham, Shrewsbury
The unclued lights (including the pair at 3/34) are all buried in Père Lachaise (when translated may give ‘PA THE SEAT’) cemetery in Paris. First prize Heather Kingham, Barnay, France Runners-up Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorks; Olivia Ramage, Horfield, Bristol
HIEROSOLYMITAN (1D) means ‘of or relating to Jerusalem’. 15, 18, 27, 35A, 38, 5 and 12 may all be preceded by the word ‘Jerusalem’. Title: cf. ‘Jerusalem the golden’ (hymn) First prize Catherine Stekly, Fowlmere, Royston, Herts Runners-up Alexia Dobbs, London SW1; Ben Stephenson, London SW12
The key word is LOPHOBRANCH (7), defining 1A and 29A, and divisible into words of which synonyms are 20 and 36; 8A and 18; and 29D and 41. First prize R.C. Ingram, Wymondham, Norfolk Runners-up Catherine Ellis, Durham; P. West, Birmingham
The unclued lights are railway stations in London (1, 20 and 37), Birmingham (2/36 and 11), Bristol (6A/7), Manchester (16/38 and 19) and Edinburgh (30). First prize Jenny Atkinson, Chorleywood, Herts Runners-up I.F. Bush, Ealing; Mark Humble, London SW3
The perimeter quotation is the opening couplet of Marvell’s ‘To His Coy Mistress’. Remaining unclued lights in order 12A, 17A, 35A, 38A, 22D are anagrams of ‘Time’s wingèd chariot drawing near’. First prize Rhidian Llewellyn, Minchinhampton, Glos Runners-up Kenneth M. Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lincs
Unclued entries, when augmented by the letter that follows them in the grid, are all types of coffee or coffee bean. The extra letter might be thought of as the coffee grounds. First prize Seamus McNeill, Belfast Runners-up Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, W. Yorks; C.J. Ellis, Rochester
The unclued lights are the eight principal compilers who have set puzzles for this series from puzzle 1 to 2082 (hence the title). First prize Cathy Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up P.M. Powell, Topsham, Exeter; Richard Poole, Llandanwg, Gwynedd
Five unclued lights were to be VOWELLED (28) in a UNIQUE (2) way: CATAMARAN (4A), GEE-GEE (3), DISINHIBIT (39), BOOBOO (31) and SURUCUCU (21). First prize Albert Fowler, Bexleyheath, Kent Runners-up J.S. Roberts, Rodmell, East Sussex; C.G. Millin, Ramleaze, Wiltshire
Unclued lights are PRAYERS. Corrections of misprints (including one in the title) give REQUIESCAT and PATERNOSTER. First prize Patricia Gibbs, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire Runners-up R. Colclough, Didsbury, Manchester; Christine El-Kadi, Sarisbury Green, Southampton
Each unclued light has no MAC on, but 30D (Macramé) does. First prize Stephen Gore, Seer Green, Bucks Runners-up John Cruickshank, Aberdeen; R.J. Green, Llangynidr, Crickhowell
A PENTAD (5) of COMPOSERS (12) lost the letters N, E and T: S[T]OCKHAUS[EN] (1A), S[T]AI[NE]R (18), SM[ET]A[N]A (37), HI[N]D[E]MI[T]H (3) and PAL[E]S[T]RI[N]A (27). First prize Mike Atkin, Butterton, Staffs Runners-up C.W. Hastings, Upper Woolhampton; J. Sanders, Southampton, Hants
Extra letters in jumbles, plus INITIALS (37) of clues, give the saying ‘Where the carcase is, there shall the eagles be gathered together’. The carcase in the grid is a MORKIN, accounting for the presence of six eagles. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up C.V. Clark, London WC1; M.F. O’Brien, London N12
First prize Cheryl Bacon, Hitchin, Herts Runners-up Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lancashire; Michael Smith, Aldershot, Hampshire
Six unclued lights are names for HELL (12), which is ‘A CITY MUCH LIKE LONDON’ (38 43) according to a quotation by SHELLEY. First prize J.H. Peevers, Didmarton, Glos Runners-up Chris James, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex; J. Smithies, Guernsey
The unclued lights (including the pair at 36/9) are islands on the ORKNEYS (an anagram of ‘Yonkers’). Solvers had to highlight the three letters HOY of the solution at 39D (Ahoy), which is ‘a call’, hence the wording in the preamble. First prize M. Williamson, Chelmsford, Essex Runners-up Mrs Pamela Bealby, Stockton-on-Tees; Robert Hinton,