The unclued lights are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe. Across 2 Means to call poor chaperone about decline in wind backing (13, two words) 11 Department providing gold and beryllium (4) 14 Favouring women in front (4) 15 Standstill at Aussie thicket (10, hyphened) 18 Interprets text, having no time for steps (5) 19 Feel
Clues are presented in alphabetical order of their solutions. The solutions have then to be fitted into the grid, jigsaw-fashion. A Striving for scope backing number one (8) A Tense lover short of money (6) B Child’s first book and game (10) C Mark in vehicle beside French joiner (5) C Made money around outhouse
The unclued Across lights become thematic when a suffix is appended. The individual unclued Down lights (one a proper noun) also become thematic when a different suffix is appended; 1 Down consists of three further words which individually become thematic in the same way as the unclued Down ones do. The unchecked letters of all
The subtraction reveals the link between the unclued lights which saw light then. Three unclued lights consist of two words, and others form four pairs. In addition, a personal announcement is revealed clue by clue, for starters. Across 1 Jaunty seat astern with hot bearing (13, two hyphens) 9 Unitarian’s cross, interrupted by vulgar
The unclued four-letter words can be paired in a particular way to form the remaining unclued lights, one of two words. Elsewhere, ignore two accents. Across 1 Border force on bank guarding river (8) 5 View of a hill removed from a magazine (6) 10 Take steps against token performance (10) 12 As a
The unclued lights, as well as KEITH, are Scottish place names. TARBERT was required at 28A, rather than LARBERT. First prize Una Lynch, Haywards Heath, West Sussex Runners-up R.R. Alford, Oundle, Peterborough; Anson, London SE5
The unclued lights, (two of two words), are of a kind. Chambers does not give the solution at 12 Across. So as to avoid alternative thematic solutions at 28A, solvers should know that the first letter is the same as the final one. Across 2 Amblers won’t be adapting military item (13, three words)
Solution to 2308: Landmark This puzzle was Doc’s 600th to be published in this series. The unclued lights are two-word phrases beginning with D and C (DC = 600). The paired lights are 7/8, 21A/39, 21D/3, 35/25 and 40/24. The solution at 7A, D-0-C, is the serendipitous link between the theme and the compiler’s name. First
This puzzle is a landmark for D(0)C: his first crossword appeared in The Spectator in the issue dated July 4th 1981 and his puzzles have appeared almost every third week since then. The unclued lights (three of two words) and the others when paired correctly represent initially the total which D(0)C reaches with this puzzle.
The unclued lights are trios of Cluedo © rooms at 1A, 14A and 40, weapons at 6, 13 and 14, and suspects at 5, 27 and 36. The solution to the crime are the highlighted HALL, ROPE and PLUM. First prize P. Langdale, London N11 Runners-up Matthew Cawthorne, Watford, Hertfordshire; Barry Fisher, Bramhall, Stockport
The unclued lights (one of two words) can be resolved into three associated trios which are not the solution to the problem. Solvers have to search the completed grid and then highlight the trio which does so. Across 11 Maigret’s sidekick has read case in French (5) 12 Those in the band that take
The twelve undefined solutions become one Scottish and eleven English towns, if the final letter is omitted or a letter is added at the start. First prize Pamela Moorey, London EC1 Runners-up Glyn Watkins, Portishead, Bristol Lowri Williams, Barlaston, Stoke-on-Trent
The solutions to twelve clues, all of which lack definition, have to be adapted as the title indicates before the resulting word is entered in the grid. These resulting words are of a kind. Chambers does not give 4D. Across 1 Grotesque body-snatcher – deaths dismissed (6) 4 Incompetent crossing street (8)
The unclued lights, including 28/3 in its English translation, are compositions by Carl Nielsen, (i.e. pieces of 8 Down). First prize K.J. Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester Runners-up Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, North Yorkshire; Megan Warburton, Walthamstow, East London
One unclued light is the origin of the remaining unclued lights (three of two words), individually or as a pair. Across 4 Stagnation’s the making of these adversaries (11) 11 It’s for refreshment in moderation — there’s no din (7) 12 Reptile from southern-most headland (6) 13 Nut lovers’ collection in Laurel’s birthplace (9)
The unclued lights are seven COMPOSERS whose surnames begin with A to G, along with the eighth beginning with H, which is B natural in German notation. First prize Oliver Miles, Oxford Runners-up Miriam Moran, Pangbourne, Berks Tom Eadon, Melton Mowbray, Leicsa
The unclued lights, which include the German eighth, are of a kind. Ignore all accents. Across 1 Lines fish in strips (8) 6 Dads receiving trophy before drinks (6) 10 Being against work place on outskirts of Arundel (12) 11 Children are a bone of contention (5) 17 Sentence lout over pinching high-class rescue
The unclued lights are items of headgear. First prize Tony Watson, Twyford, Berkshire Runners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol
The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) are of a kind, all verifiable in Chambers. Across 4 Night-flier in gear (11, two words) 11 Fancy pictures from one publication with topless sequences (9) 14 City faraway from Helsinki, evidently (4) 15 Aunt Sally is retiring (3) 18 Dropping openers, new eleven win
Perimetric trios combine to suggest HOG/MAN/AY: SHILLING, MALE, INDEED; SWINE, ATTENDANT, YES; MOUND, EMPLOYEE, EVER. The relevant activity is FIRST-FOOTING (35/25/16) and the relevant name is SYLVESTER (11). First prize Helen Hinder, Knaphill, Surrey Runners-up Mrs J. Smith, Beeston, Norfolk; Bill Stewart, Leicester