Crossword

A ship is the theme. Clockwise round the perimeter from 39 appear a type of event followed by the names of three such events she attended with distinction and the name of her most famous passenger (6,3,8,5,2,4,3,4,9,8). Unclued lights give her nickname (a pair) and her final role.

Seven unclued lights (two of two words) precede and four follow a word defined by the title and all are verifiable in Brewer. Across 1    Last of rowers having to cut down blade (5)4    Church feature spoilt RC chateau (5,4)11    Lectern’s Roman standard (5)12  More macho Walford family (7)14    Schumann variations on four notes – one doubled (5)15    Italian wine store empty?

To CREATE an EQUATION from the PUZZLE NUMBER, INTRODUCE an EQUALS SIGN and RAISE a SINGLE DIGIT. By following this instruction, 2733 becomes 27=33.

All but one of the unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. The remaining one links the others. Ignore one apostrophe and two accents. Across 12    Prepare linguine vongole starter for opening ceremony (9) 13    Two guys retiring to Hawaiian island (5) 15    Cartoonists redesign a main story, cutting the end (9) 16    Letter about convict in fur coat (6) 20    Sore feeling follows a dry official (7) 21    Game start for cavalier tough guy (6) 22    Notice vicar coming back with bishop drunkenly?

The unclued Across and Down solutions are of two kinds, entered accordingly: five are of two or three words.

To 31D an 37A from the 29D 28A, 19A an 14A 1A and 11D a 23A 35D. Across 5 One reeling in buck before breaking into half-concealed grin (9) 12    Father absorbed by belief system covered in Virginia? (9) 15    Partly cauterised organs (5) 16    This requires at least two pieces facing each other (8) 17    European claims lengthy heroic works? (6) 20    It stains rice on boiling (6) 25    Compound float on Scottish lake ‘repaired’ (8) 27    In America, kill kindred where bodies won’t rot?

The unclued lights consist of seven themed categories A to G (with G being interpreted very loosely) which are highlighted in yellow in the grid. Each themed category leads to six unclued theme words A to F, one of two words and another hyphened. Across 11    Bishop always upset item in bar (5) 13    Drink Church of Scotland finally banned (3) 16    Knight upset silver hay-cart (6) 18    Friends from abroad three-quarters down the list. That’s wrong (5) 20    Walk in west and east parts of Paris (4) 26    After parking drink in enclosed area (4) 29    Corrie character not born in France taking extra time (4) 30    Seabird seen during the pm?

A quote (ODQ, 8th edition) runs around the grid’s perimeter, beginning at 3. It is preceded by the first name of its author, whose surname is an unclued entry. Four further unclued entries consist of two leaders, a receptacle, and its contents; letters of the five unclued entries unchecked by clue answers may be rearranged to spell out ‘BASK IN CHANTS’. Two sides, in short, should be highlighted.

‘4D!/18A/3D!’ (four words in total) is a quotation from a tale by the author of 9D (three words). Remaining unclued lights give the names of the two protagonists of the tale and that of the 24A in which it was told.

The unclued lights, (when taken as an individual, three pairs and one trio), are of a kind, verifiable in Chambers (13th edition). Across 10    Father Gold froze thematically (4) 12    Awkward bra stealer can be nicked (10) 14    An indefinitely large number of alcaics – not odd!

Unclued lights (one of two words, the others paired) at length have something in common. Across 1 Faced bombs near end of life (7) 11    Museum spending pounds to acquire English works (6) 12    European body said to be a biblical tribe (7) 14    Losing sides destroy poetic inspiration (5) 15    First person on chimney reaching heavens (5) 16    Shrewd to hide roubles in crevice (6) 17    Mum unfortunately sent back spicy paste (6) 18    In which to deliver good wine?

Eight unclued solutions, including a pair, are of a kind. Across 11    Most excellent expert admitting: ‘Everyone can be beaten!’ (9) 12    Left centre of Kyoto for coastal city (5) 13    Game playing isn’t tenable (5,6) 14    My elderly grandma always danced the leads (4) 18    Dish of noodles King and I tucked into (7) 19    Recalled old letter about a minute charm (7) 23    Rowing over a piece of jewellery (6) 24    Dramatic hurricane masks sound of birds (5) 27    Turned up old brooch (5) 29    Famous sisters of Eleanor, possibly having lots of tea?

The unclued lights, one of two words, entered individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Across 4 Media broadcast about 12 that’s cheap and practically useless (1,4,1,5) 11    Letters being sent to distant branch (7) 12    Medium range paintings (6) 13    Passing nurse in van (9) 14    Join princess having kiss (5) 21    Roman numeral from cross against heads of two icons (4) 23    Having abandoned shelter, Loch Ness Monster shocked army personnel (3-4) 24    A new version of Black Beauty?

Eight unclued entries include the names of an event and six who took part, and a memorial to one of them.

Eight unclued lights comprise four pairs. Across 1 Doubling my carbon in low country (7) 12    American sanctimonious state at the top (6) 13    Geological fold running nicely round north east of south (8) 15    Treatise outline includes pretentious odds and ends (8) 17    General Secretary holds back brief register on new retailers (12) 18    Ingesta, put another way?

The unclued lights can be arranged to grow from 3 to 11 letters in length, each being an anagram of its predecessor and an extra letter. Across 7    Equipment for Bell, Athey and Trescothick initially (3) 13    Male folk star’s alarming words (7) 15    Pipe valley running through Britain (5) 16    Reportedly remained stolid (5) 17    Middle of emails edited (6) 18    Nameless President has time on the loo (5) 20    Brainboxes managed to infiltrate spy agency (6) 21    Thorpe, terrified somewhat of safe-cracker (5) 22    Doddery, maybe, when dancing in Aviemore?

Five pairs of unclued lights are similarly linked. Across 12    Finally, favourite coastal town gets special treatment (3,6) 13    Seafront apartment housing readily available (2,3) 15    Conductor is in Costa in confusion (9) 16    Get comfortable in finest Levis! (6) 20    Shell-like gold relic smashed (7) 21    Could be made in reverse? (6) 22    Passionate time following Forest (6) 26    Openings of the best satirical poetry in little volume (4) 27    Pull to the left in Winnebago (3) 29    One of these?

‘31D’ is a line thrice uttered by the victim of ‘37A/34D/9D’ where his 14A grew. Remaining unclued lights give his name and how he was addressed by his son (two words) and the name of his son’s tragic friend.

21 solutions in the grid are represented as follows: A B C d H I K L m N O p r s t U v W X y z. They have to be fitted into the grid jigsaw-fashion. Across 12    German novelist from the Wiesbaden area (5) 14    Single within the boundaries of Headingley, dearie (5) 16    Moving into gear, I start (9) 17    Young ewe runs from two dozen (6) 21    Exercise wearing a piece of armour, but not fighting (2,5) 22    Groups of atoms in clue order  (6) 25    Devotee making an impression, taking that female in (8) 30    Article of faith explained (3) 34    Rocky situation?