Corrections of misprints give A GRECIAN URN. The POET (23) reporting its message (perimeter + 4 30) is KEATS (42). First prize M. Threasher, Winscombe, Somerset Runners-up Philip Dacre, York; Frances Whitehead, Harrogate, N. Yorks
The unclued lights are DOGS from the classics, legend or of noted people. First prize David Maddison, London E1 Runners-up Richard Gray, Epping, Essex; Alice Woods, Whitchurch, Hants
WARREN MITCHELL (42/43), STAR (39) of stage and screen, died on 14th November 2015. He won an Olivier Award as Willy LOMAN (25) in DEATH OF A SALESMAN (18A/16) and a BAFTA TV Award as Alf Garnett in TILL DEATH US DO PART (10/18A/15). ALF GARNETT (diagonally from the first row) was to be shaded.
Each partial answer indicated by a clue in italics is KNOCKED INTO A COCKED HAT (5 39). Resulting entries at 1D, 4. 25 and 30 (in which the hats are lum, terai, lid and tile) are defined by 3, 24, 11 and 32. First prize Peter Wood, Heanor, Derbyshire Runners-up P. Taylor-Mansfield, Worcester; John Light,
The unclued lights (1A, 1D, 6A/33, 13, 18, 32 and 38/24) are seven of the ‘Twelve Curious CUSTOMS Worth Reviving’, as listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize J. Bielawski, Liverpool Runners-up Neil Mendoza, London W11; K.J. Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester
The grid quotation was from the JOURNEY OF THE MAGI (T S ELIOT). Initial letters of superfluous words spelled out ‘Heap on more wood, the wind is chill / But let it whistle where it will / We’ll keep our Christmas merry still’, from MARMION (Sir Walter SCOTT). Unclued works by these authors were the
The thematic term (formed by letters cut from definitions, 17, and letters added to definitions) is SCISSORS-AND-PASTE. Unclued lights are types of scissors (9, 25, 31, 32) and paste (1, 6D, 20, 28). First prize L. Coumbe, Benfleet, Essex Runners-up Stephen Gore, Seer Green, Bucks; C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex
The unclued lights include the words ONE to NINE which had to be entered as figures 1 to 9 in unchecked squares. First prize C.W. Hastings, Upper Woolhampton, Berks Runners-up Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire; Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland
The title suggests BACK NUMBERS (8/15). Remaining unclued lights contain ‘back numbers’: GENEVESE (1A), MARXIST (20), GENETTE (24), XENON (37), GROWTH (42) and MENINGES (43). 8 and 15 were to be shaded. First prize Margaret Lusk, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs Runners-up Tim Hanks, Douglas, Isle of Man; Anthony Harker, Cumnor Hill, Oxford
The publication is 11A. Other unclued lights are all anagrams (‘new’ versions) of scientists: 14A SEABORG; 22A EINSTEIN; 23A PASTEUR; 34A TESLA; 37A OERSTED; 38A CURIE; 1D DARWIN; 28D CELSIUS. First prize Juliet Burgess, Narberth, Pembrokeshire Runners-up Jan Hill, Brighton, East Sussex; Mike Carter, Flawith, Yorkshire
First prize Mrs M. Purdie, Ceres, Cupar, Fife Runners-up Nick Hussey, Overton, Hampshire; K. Parekh, Wayne, Illinois
The quotation was ‘IS THIS A [DAGGER] WHICH I SEE BEFORE ME’ (1/44) (Macbeth).18, 22, 2, 27, 29 and 30D are daggers. BASELARD (diagonally from the 12th row) was to be shaded. VILE STUFF suggests BASE LARD. First prize Michael Sargisson, Norwich Runners-up Brian Willis, Bicton, Australia; Deborah Davis, Sholing, Southampton
MARCOBRUNNER (11) is composed of words whose definitions are 1D, 24, 32; 13, 17, 35; and 9, 29A, 38. First prize Peter Bond, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire Runners-up Rebecca Mawle, Great Nolford, Warwickshire; Peter Maddox, Swansea
The unclued lights are CHEESES. First prize M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian Runners-up D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent; Katherine Griffin, Winchester, Hants
The thematic phrase is ‘The Waves’, shown in a wave pattern in the grid. It is the title of a novel by 29A/33; 8, 30 and 36 are types of ocean waves; 14, 16 and 32 are other types of waves. First prize Bob Wightman, Harpenden, Herts Runners-up Tony Dew, London SW13; Frank Upton, Solihull,
Unclued lights made mottoes around the rim of one-pound coins: (33) NEMO ME (12) IMPUNE (40) LACESSIT, (18) DECUS ET (34) TUTAMEN, and (13) PLEIDIOL (39) WYF I’M (4) GWLAD. First prize Tony Watson, Twyford, Berks Runners-up P. Langdale, London N11; Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants
The unclued lights are FRENCH DÉPARTEMENTS, with five of them placed in the grid at their correct administrative number: 2, 3, 25, 36, and 39. First prize Gordon Hobbs, Woodford Green, Essex Runners-up Rowan Priestman, Burpham, Guildford; J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere
The PROVERB (35) (in ODQ), associated with the KENNEDY (19) FAMILY (31), was ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’. EDIT (36) is ‘A rising tide’. WORT (9), POOLS (15D), BUT (21D), GUT (26) and LEEK (39) are ‘lifted’ boats. EDIT was to be shaded. First prize V. Kendall, Ware, Herts Runners-up Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, W.
GRASSHOPPERS (9) of ZURICH (30) is a team that plays football — not cricket, as indicated by corrections of misprints in clues. Other unclued lights are related STRIDULATING INSECTS (13 28). First prize R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, South Glos Runners-up N.J. Smithies, Guernsey; Charles McCulloch, Temple, London
The word pyramid runs from CAN at 7A, then 35, 36, 30, 5, 2, 21D, 19 to CONSIDERATE at 1A. First prize John Sparrow, Padbury, Bucks Runners-up Andreas Fabian, Dunsden, Oxon; John Newell, Kingston upon Thames
