Crossword solution

The unclued lights are famous British OAK trees.   First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex Runners-up Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex; Jan Thompson, Bolton, Lancs.

The name was The Spectator. THESP (SARAH BERNHARDT: 37/19), EC (EAST CENTRAL: 36/20), TAT (HEMPEN MATTING: 5/15) and OR (LOGIC CIRCUIT: 35/31).

Concealed Shakespearean characters were Rivers, Celia, Celia (again), Hamlet, Costard, Polonius, Snug, Hero, Gallus, Martius, Pistol, Collatine (The Rape of Lucrece), Bushy and Hermia. ‘Disguises’ spelt Midsummer Night.   First prize John Honey, Brentford Runners-up Geran Jones, London SW1; D.

The theme word is KING and the pairs are 4/41, 14/1A, 19/27, 34/16 and 38/24.   First prize C.V. Clark, London WC1 Runners-up C.S.G.

Clues with misprints were 16, 22, 24 and 34 Across and 2, 3, 6, 26, 31 and 36 Down. Corrections spelt WELLINGTON. Unclued lights were: Oceanian capitals (1A and 8A); Wellington’s battles (18A and 13D); beef dishes (7D and 19D) and types of boot (37A and 38A).   First prize Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex Runners-up Chris Butler, Borough Green, Kent; Andrew J.

Corrections of misprints in clues give CHAMBERS DICTIONARY, defining the items in the perimeter.   First prize David Heath, Euston, Newark Runners-up E.C. Wightman, Menston, Ilkley, W. Yorks; E.

The unclued lights are stations of the London Underground CIRCLE Line. BAYSWATER is the paired theme-word. Solvers had to highlight TOWER HILL in yellow, as per the Line’s colour on a London Tube Map.

Round the perimeter run the titles of three songs from the musical Guys and Dolls, epitomised by SKY (28) Masterson and SARAH (11) Brown, and NATHAN (19) Detroit and Miss ADELAIDE (39): A BUSHEL AND A PECK, IF I WERE A BELL and SIT DOWN YOU’RE ROCKIN’ THE BOAT.   First prize P.L. Macdougall, London SW6 Runners-up D.P. Shenkin, London WC1; R.J.

21 and 41 are definitions of SUMMER; RECESS defines each of the other unclued lights.

All but one of the unclued lights can be preceded by DOCTOR (or in one case DOC). The title also explains why DOC’s name (as the compiler) was omitted from the heading of the puzzle. Solvers were required to highlight CAPE at 38 Down which yields ‘Cape Doctor’ where Doctor follows rather than precedes the unclued light.   First prize Storm Hutchinson, Dulas, Anglesey Runners-up Philip Whiteland, Doveridge, Derbyshire; J.

Seven unclued lights were names of VERSE-MEN (22) minus one letter: VI(R)GIL (1A), BRO(O)KE (15A), BRID(G)ES (16), DON(N)E (9), S(P)ENDER (21),(W)HITMAN (30) and PO(U)ND (34D). Title: Hard(y). First prize Mrs C. Turner, Highgate, London Runners-up F. J.

Answers to clues in italics are Clockwise (16), mondial (25), smugly (26), mushroomed (15) and pantable (32), each of which is subjected to LOSS OF FACE (8) to produce grid entries defined by, respectively, 4, 11, 1D, 30 and 39.   First prize Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man Runners-up John Kitchen, Breachwood Green, Herts; L. Coumbe, Benfleet, Essex.

The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M.

The unclued lights are anagrams of words meaning ‘blessing’, hence 43A MIXED BLESSINGS. The words are 11A AGREEMENT, 31A BENISON, 34A CONSENT, 40A BOON, 10D PERMISSION, 13D GODSEND, 15D SANCTION and 27D DARSHAN.

Associations with adjectives are ALL RIGHT (16), BRIGHT LIGHTS (40), BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (31), GREAT DANE (42), and SMALL BEER (4).  The hymn, by MRS C.F. ALEXANDER (28, 18) is number 587 in the English Hymnal.   First prize Frank Anstis, Truro, Cornwall Runners-up Dr John Stabler, North Creake, Norfolk; R.B.

The unclued lights Across are CATS and the unclued lights Down are DOGS.

‘Harry the King, BEDFORD (19) and EXETER (18), WARWICK (1D) and TALBOT (25), SALISBURY (4A) and GLOSTER (12)’ (Henry V, act 4, sc.3) are named in Henry V’s speech at AGINCOURT (26/34). HARRY THE KING (diagonally from the third row) was to be shaded.   First prize M.

Corrections of misprints in clues give STEP ON THE GAS, indicating the unclued lights in each of four columns in the grid.   First prize Virginia Porter, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff Runners-up Richard Poole, Harlech, Gwynedd; John M.

The unclued Across lights are ANAGRAMS of French numbers (22: trente, 24: soixante, 26: sept, 29: onze, 43: trois) and the Down lights of German numbers (3: vier, 4: hundert, 10: sechs, 40: acht, 41: drei).   First prize G. Jones, London SW1 Runners-up Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; S.J.J.

Clifton Fadiman wrote that cheese was ‘MILK’S LEAP TOWARDS IMMORTALITY’ (3/4/18). The remaining unclued lights (16, 21, 25, 35, 44 and 1) are cheeses. FADIMAN (diagonally from the 13th row) was to be shaded. First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Eileen Robinson, Sheffield; J.