Crossword solution

The unclued lights are heraldic terms.

The Poem was ‘Kubla Khan’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. 3A, 23, 42, 43, 3D, 4, 10 and 16 are words from the poem. KUBLA KHAN appears in the twelfth row. COLE (1A) and RIDGE (24) were to be shaded.

Unclued lights complete the titles of Carry On films.

The unclued lights are all preceded by GREAT to form the phrases that can be confirmed in Brewer. (The clue at 40A suggests GREATEST LIE, also listed in Brewer).

The poem was Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats. 1A, 16, 21A, 30, 38, 8, 13, 27, 29 and 35 all appear in it. A GRECIAN URN appears diagonally from 9. STEAK (39) was to be shaded. First prize Sid Field, Stockton-on-Tees Runners-up M.

Films starring AUDREY HEPBURN (4 29) include MY FAIR LADY, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, SABRINA FAIR and ROMAN HOLIDAY in the perimeter, and (defined by the puzzle’s title) CHARADE.

The unclued lights include at least four Os (IV Os), and other clued solutions contain two or three. OROONOKO at 6D is the novel and has five Os.   First prize David Warren, Gorey, Co. Wexford Runners-up J.E. Pugh, Cardiff; S.J.J.

The theme word is CLIMBER. All unclued lights are therefore entered going upwards. There are three different types of climbers: plants (1, 8 and 22), mountaineers (4 and 27) and social climbers (14 and 18).

The unclued Down lights are books, entered in reverse as indicated by the phrase TURN-UP FOR THE BOOKS (1A 27 28 43).

The unclued Across lights (15, 23/21, 38 and 39) are LITERAL anagrams of the unclued Down lights (3, 19, 32/37, 2) First prize Anthony Harker, Oxford Runners-up E.A. Wright, Fleetwood, Lancs; K.J.

‘THE OLD ORDER CHANGETH YIELDING PLACE TO NEW’, from Tennyson’s IDYLLS OF THE KING, suggests the outcome of ANAGRAMMATISM (2). ALFRED LORD TENNYSON is an anagram of 9/20/22/38. Title: anagram of THE OLD ORDER.   First prize Michael Smith, Aldershot, Hants Runners-up Dr J.A. McClellan, Portsmouth, Hants; A.C.R.

The future is not for parties ‘playing politics’ (16 29 1A 15) is a quotation by Woodrow Wilson. 1A provides a cryptic indication of 5, 13, 23 and 28. First prize Stephen Saunders, Midford, Bath Runners-up F.J.

The unclued lights were preceded by PETER (translation of 32A) to form phrases listed in Chambers or Brewer.

The fictional SCHOLAR (28) was Billy Bunter, described by his creator, Frank Richards, as a ‘FAT GREEDY OWL (22A/31/26)’ (in ODQ). SILLY (13) and PUFFING (18) are associated with ‘Billy’ and KEUPER (4) and MUSCHELKALK (16D) (in Chambers individually and under ‘Triassic’) with ‘Bunter’. Title: ‘bunter’ is a low woman or mort.   First prize R.R. Alford, Oundle, Peterborough Runners-up B.

PERCH (13A), SCAR (21A and 10D), SHAD (40A), EEL (5D) AND CARP (19D) were ignored in wordplay in their clues. The other unclued lights are listed in Chambers as things you may FISH for. First prize P.D.H. Riddell, London SE23 Runners-up Lynne Gilchrist, Willoughby, Australia; A.

The thematic unclued lights (4D, 20D, 34D, 40A and 41A+27A) are COUNTRIES, and the other unclued lights are their anagrams, respectively 38A, 13A, 7D, 16A and 28A+15A. First prize Sebastian Robinson, Glasgow Runners-up Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds; S.

Unclued lights were set out in the form of two squares in the grid (shown here in red). The theme word was 18. 1, 10, 12 and 38 are defined by it in one sense; 15, 19 and 43 in another. Highlighting TIMES (square) gave the fourth example of a city square. First prize K.D. Birkett, Heysham, Morecambe, Lancs Runners-up R.A.

Five perimeter entries, and 29 and 30, are types of BODYGUARD. First prize Amanda Spielman, London SW4 Runners-up Dr S.M.

The theme is CATS; the unclued Across lights are breeds of cats and unclued Down lights and TOPCAT (which had to be highlighted) are cats in literature or film.   First prize Ray Nolan, Droylsden, Manchester Runners-up M.D.

Seven unclued lights are ANAGRAMS (23) of numbers. 2 (7A) + 11 (17) + 10 (40) + 16 (5) + 18 (6) + 3 (31) = 60 (36). First prize Jack Shonfield, Child Okeford, Dorset Runners-up Michael Ollerenshaw, Bowdon, Cheshire; M.