Crossword solution

Perimeter words are names of the most recent GEOLOGICAL PERIODS.   First prize J.P Green, Uppingham, Rutland Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; Sebastian Robinson, Glasgow.

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

Thematic names are 1A/22 and 25/34, author of The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA. Thematic phrases appear in the shape of a double helix with mirror symmetry around the grid’s central axis.   First prize Hugh Dales, Dysart, Fife Runners-up P. West, Birmingham; Christine Twickel, Tidmington, Shipston-on-Stour

Bill Shankly said: ‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death … ( I can assure them it is much more serious than that)’. The unclued letters in the grid spell LIFE AND if read downwards row by row, and ANFIELD if read across column by column.   First prize Sandra Peterkin,

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

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (99) and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (20) – whose DIRECTORS (37) were ERNST LUBITSCH (61) and FRANK CAPRA (35D) – are FILMS (53) in which the ACTOR (78) playing the CHARACTERS (68D) of ALFRED KRALIK (79) and GEORGE BAILEY (45) is JAMES STEWART (1A 5A). One film’s title suggests the

The unclued lights are expressions meaning NEVER (3A, 4D+43A, 21D+14D, 37A+1D and 37A+15D).   First prize Hilary James, London W5 Runners-up David Henderson, Almonte, Ontario; A.H. Harker, Oxford

Unclued lights are names of PARLIAMENTS.   First prize Judith Bevis, Newport Runners-up Hilda Ball, Belfast; Michael Grocott, Loughborough

Unclued lights are types of LIMESTONE. First prize Frances Whitehead, Harrogate, North Yorks Runners-up Margaret Almond, Sholing, Hants; P.D.H. Riddell, London SE23

The unclued lights are provinces or areas of BELGIUM.   First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Frank McDonald, Carron, Falkirk; I. Lyttle, Armagh

The theme word was China, the Mandarin Chinese word for which is Zhongguo (the pinyin transliteration of 中国). Unclued lights were Chinese cities (34A, 3D, 30D), types of china (16A, 30A, 9D) and words meaning ‘friend’ (2D, 37D, 38D).   First prize Janet Fletcher, Johnstone, Renfrewshire Runners-up Virginia Porter, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff; Ernie Morrison, Coleraine, Co.

In PYGMALION (21D), ELIZA (32) said NOT BLOODY LIKELY! (7A/9/12).  Synonyms were NEGATIVE (24), RARE (35), ODDS-ON (20). GB SHAW (in the second row) had to be shaded.   First prize Vincent Clark, Frant, East Sussex Runners-up Julie Sanders, Bishops Waltham, Hants; Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian

The unclued lights are PUBLISHING FIRMS. Our apologies for the omission of clue 42 Across. It went missing during the production stage. It should have read: 42 Enticing action Latino attains oddly (13)   First prize Jenny Gubb, Uffculme, Devon Runners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; Mrs E. Knights, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

The perimetric quotation (referring to October), AMBIGUOUS MONTH, THE MONTH OF TENSION, THE UNENDURABLE MONTH’, is followed by DL, the initials of its author, Doris Lessing, a NOBEL LAUREATE (2/5). The source is the novel MARTHA QUEST (18/17).   First prize Christopher Hanafin, Adare, Co. Limerick Runners-up Sara MacIntosh, Darlington, Co. Durham; C.J. Ellis, Rochester, Kent

Extra letters in clues form the phrase BITE THE DUST. Thematically created entries at 10, 11, 19, 29 and 34 (in which the types of dust are pother, pollen, stour, bort and ash) are defined by 15, 30, 18, 39 and 9.   First prize Andrew Bell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire Runners-up Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Cheshire;  John

The unclued lights are famous British OAK trees.   First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex Runners-up Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex; Jan Thompson, Bolton, Lancs.

The name was The Spectator. THESP (SARAH BERNHARDT: 37/19), EC (EAST CENTRAL: 36/20), TAT (HEMPEN MATTING: 5/15) and OR (LOGIC CIRCUIT: 35/31).   First prize Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham Runners-up Rose Llewellyn, London SW10; Trevor Evans, Drulingen, France

Concealed Shakespearean characters were Rivers, Celia, Celia (again), Hamlet, Costard, Polonius, Snug, Hero, Gallus, Martius, Pistol, Collatine (The Rape of Lucrece), Bushy and Hermia. ‘Disguises’ spelt Midsummer Night.   First prize John Honey, Brentford Runners-up Geran Jones, London SW1; D. Rosendorff, Coogee, NSW, Australia

The theme word is KING and the pairs are 4/41, 14/1A, 19/27, 34/16 and 38/24.   First prize C.V. Clark, London WC1 Runners-up C.S.G. Elengorn, Enfield, Middlesex; Jacqui Sohn, Gorleston, Norfolk

Clues with misprints were 16, 22, 24 and 34 Across and 2, 3, 6, 26, 31 and 36 Down. Corrections spelt WELLINGTON. Unclued lights were: Oceanian capitals (1A and 8A); Wellington’s battles (18A and 13D); beef dishes (7D and 19D) and types of boot (37A and 38A).   First prize Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West