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Thursday

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2157: Song X

Round the perimeter clockwise from 1 run six lights of a kind (7,9,10,9,9,8): if the grid were a 13/12, they might collectively suggest the title of a song famously 22 19 years ago. Corner letters are held in STRONG REGARD. A relevant name (5) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.   Across   9    More tea or coffee? (5) 10    Soccer tactic went awry in no-score draw (6, hyphened) 11    A Spring Sunday: time ducks returned (7) 15    Gosh! It’s somebody on 70 curatives (10) 16    Aunt Sally?

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to 2154: Clickety click

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.

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2154: Clickety click

This puzzle marks the 40 of a 33 29. 16A, 24 and 1D (four words) are three of his works. 7 (hyphened) and 22A combine to give an anagram of the 29’s name (hyphened).

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Solution to 2151: Sources

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.

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to 2148: Eighth of February

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.

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to 2145: Two in a row

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.

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2148: Eighth of February

Unclued lights (including two of two words and an accent to be ignored) can be expressed in such a way as to form a thematic set. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.   Across   1    Solitary criminal canned opium (11) 11    Vintage malt liquor needing special can in perfect condition (6) 13    Dramatist from Italy a certain ancient poet abridged (7) 15    Knockout pair of rivers divided country (5) 16    More than one duck appears in turn (5) 17    Implant in Henry’s heart and back as well (6) 18    What’s by Mac’s door? Rook heartless cat carried round (5) 20    Negative voter puts out tent for Wesley?

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Christmas crossword: The winners

Christmas carols, and their anagrammed ‘new titles’:   O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY GOOD KING WENCESLAS I SAW THREE SHIPS IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER   ALLELUIA OF THE COMFY ADMIT UMPTEENTH ANGELIC CHOIR COSY, DAINTY, DIVINE CAROL LEGS GO CAKED IN SNOW SPIES THEIR WASH MIRED IN WHITE BLANKET   The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the new Chambers Crossword Completer go to the following. The first four winners will also receive a bottle of champagne.   First prize Mr J. Frankland, Milnthorpe, Cumbria   Runners-up Martin Dey, Hoylandswaine, S. Yorks; Roger King, Twickenham, Middlesex; N.H.

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2144: Leonids

1D is the title of a work minus a word that is suggested by three further unclued lights. Other unclued lights include the person to whom the word refers, who is addressed in the work as ‘9’ (three words, one hyphened), and the addresser and his servant, both of whom are in disguise.

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to 2142: Wintry

Extra letters in clues give ‘wrapped in wild snow’, a quotation from a poem by ALEXANDER BLOK (10). Partially indicated answers are treated accordingly, the resulting entries at 1D, 14, 17, 22, and 40 being defined by 4A, 27, 3, 19, and 11. First prize Dr J. McClelland, Bangor, Northern Ireland Runners-up Mrs R.J.C.

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To 2134: Mere letters

The pairs of anagrams were of countries and their capitals: Dominica & Roseau (2 & 11); Latvia & Riga (20 & 8); Italy & Rome (21A & 35); Algeria & Algiers (27 & 26); Yemen & Sanaa (29 & 31). Title: PURE MAIL (Peru & Lima).   First prize Henry Dove, Farnborough, Hampshire Runners-up J.B.

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2137: Speculation

Each of two associated words is suggested by four unclued lights (one of two words). Elsewhere, ignore an accent.   Across   1 Tending spiders dope rendered legless (11) 7 Letter goblin sent back (3) 11 Scripture lessons unite flock? (6) 13 Obeser bod perhaps in bed infected by acute respiratory disease (7) 15 I take 70 pictures (5) 16 The ruler's leading pleasure (5) 17 Otto and John in greaser's gear? (6) 18 Paddy skinned sausages (5) 20 Letter from Zambia absorbed by little lad and lass (6) 21 German fills empty boat (5) 22 Dish from 17 November rehashed (7) 27 Elderly satyr swaps uniform for English campions?

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2134: Mere letters

Each unclued across light can be paired with a down one (one hyphened). Each member of a pair is an anagram of a name, the two names being linked and the link being the same in each case. The title suggests a sixth such pair. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.   Across 1 Woeful four bond and hoe soldier's grave (11, three words) 7 Jack reduced weight (3) 13 Punch is sick in bag (7, two words) 15 Practising classy madrigal? (5) 16 Autocrat bridges southern canyon (5) 17 Fresh and bracing Australian skating endlessly? (6) 18 Birds seen fluttering round rook (5) 22 Hairdresser in lift wearing mink?

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To 2131: present

Redundant words were: IRAQI (1A), ADO (5A), AENEAS (39A), EPEE (5D), AREA (25D). In line with 16/17, remaining unclued lights were all anagrams of snakes: 18A ASP; 26A COBRA; 36A BOA; 41A FER-DE-LANCE; 31D ELAPID; 33D TAIPAN; 35D ADDER.   First prize Rowan Priestman, Guildford, Surrey Runners-up Margaret Lusk, Fulwood, Lancashire; P.

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Solution to 2125: Nil desperandum

The part quotation was ‘BUT WESTWARD, LOOK, THE LAND’ (1/5/28) from Say not the struggle naught availeth by Arthur Hugh Clough. Remaining unclued lights, read from right to left (‘westward’), each contain a ‘land’: Libya (4), Oman (23), Iran (30), Cuba (35) and Italy (41). CLOUGH (in the fourth column) was to be shaded.   First prize Mr P. Taylor-Mansfield, Worcester Runners-up John Light, Addlestone, Surrey; G.H.

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2128: Carbon copy

This puzzle marks a 42/27 by 11 in 17/19. Five other unclued lights (one twice hyphened) together suggest another form of 42/47: solvers must shade the pair. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

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Solution to 2075: an outstanding idea?

The quotation is inappropriate for the CHAMELEON and the PTARMIGAN (shown in red), both of which survive by blending in to the background. Appropriately, they were hidden in the final grid and were revealed by entering the correct words at 24A, 26A, 35A, 5D and 29D. First prize M.F. O’Brien, London N12 Runners-up Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex; R.J.

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Solution to 2122: Theme and Variations

The theme word is GRAVES: 19, 34 and 40 are famous cemeteries; 17, 28 and 39 are wines from SW France; 6D/12/16 is a work by Robert Graves.   First prize Michael Grocott, Loughborough, Leics Runners-up Alan Hook, York; Dr R.L.H.