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.
The unclued lights begin with DOC (the Italian abbreviated equivalent of APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE).
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 also acceptable). First prize Sandra Speak, Dursley, Glos Runners-up S.J.J. Tiffin, Cockermouth, Cumbria; M.
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.
The unclued lights are the surnames of people (nine of whom were botanists) who gave their names to flowers.
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 Peachell, Bexley, Kent Runners-up J.E. Green, St Albans, Herts; E.C. Wightman, Menston, Ilkley, W.
The perimeter is occupied by seven SANDPIPERS. First prize Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man Runners-up Hilda Ball, Belfast; B.
The unclued lights are SIBYLS (the title was an anagram of BILLY’S with L omitted).
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.
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).
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.
The three theme words are CHAMBERS (12A, 16A, 40A), OXFORD (colleges) (24A, 4D, 8D), and (works by Wilkie) COLLINS (9D, 13D, 30D), each a publisher of a DICTIONARY, which needed highlighting. First prize Peter Cramb, Bridport, Dorset Runners-up Jane Howard, Chilham, Kent; L.
‘To fill the hour — that is happiness’ (given by initial letters of superfluous words in clues, and 3 4A) is a quotation by EMERSON (19). Thematically created entries at 12, 22, 31 and 33 are defined by 28, 34, 36 and 15D. First prize Leslie Purkiss, Southend on Sea, Essex Runners-up David Jenkinson, Matlock, Derbyshire; C.
When preceded by GREAT, each unclued light yields a phrase listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize Mrs T. Vernalls, Thame, Oxfordshire Runners-up J. Anson, London SE5; A.
Unclued lights can each be abbreviated so that together they give the letters of FEBRUARY: FAHRENHEIT (19), EARTH (32), BASS (35), RÖNTGEN UNIT (41), UNIVERSITY (1D), ATOMIC WEIGHT (4), RECTOR (12) and YEN (7A). First prize Hilda Ball, Belfast Runners-up Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorks;B.
Taking one unchecked letter from each across solution gives EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, whose victims, according to Chambers 2011, include TERRORIST SUSPECTs. The initial letters of unclued entries were S,T,R,R,T,I,E,R,O.
One 4-letter word is to be placed in the middle of another to yield an 8-letter solution: 6 ÷ 19 = 44: 14 ÷ 8 = 1A; 31D ÷ 37 = 31A; 22 ÷ 25D = 9 First prize John Bartlett, Shirley, Solihull Runners-up Anthony Harker, Oxford; Mrs D.
Each pair consists of two in a ‘row’ in a variety of meanings. PURL (14) & PLAIN (25) (line of stitches), MERCUTIO (17) & TYBALT (40) (brawl), ROT/TEN (24/27) (Rotten Row) and BOW (29) & STROKE (32) (journey in rowing boat). First prize S.J.J. Tiffin, Cockermouth, Cumbria Runners-up Stephen Daneff, London SW18; E.A.
The work was ‘THE TAMING OF THE (1D) Shrew’. ‘Shrew’ is suggested by 15, 27 and 33. The ‘Shrew’ of the title is KATHARINA (38), addressed as ‘KATE OF KATE-HALL’ (9) (in ODQ) by Petruchio (disguised as EUTROPHIC (20)), whose servant is Curtis (CITRUS (3)). Title: ‘tamed’ SONDELI (the Indian musk shrew). First prize John Gaymer, Effingham, Surrey Runners-up P.
The unclued lights are all geographical locations – paired as anagrams: 13/9, 23/28. 30/17, 34/6 and 42/33. (33 Down is a river rather than a place-name, but DONETSK (33+K) would have maintained the theme more specifically, but then it is not an anagram of OSTEND!) First prize Magdalena Deptula, Eton, Berkshire Runners-up D.G.
