Seven unclued lights are STUFFED ANIMALS (13 18) — i.e. deer, horse, anoa, cat, seal, tup and boar, filled with material supplied by TAXIDERMY (20). First prize Peter Done, Turramurra, NSW, Australia Runners-up Dr S.M. Sheerin, Princes Risborough, Bucks; D.P. Shenkin, London WC1
The unclued lights are characters from The Goon Show. The paired solutions are 22/20, 32/35 and 37/9. First prize Phillip Wickens, Penrith, Cumbria Runners-up Richard Snailham, Windsor; Roger King, Twickenham, Middlesex
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. Barnard, Emsworth, Hants
All the unclued lights mean ‘Goodbye’. First prize Alan Donovan, Croydon, Surrey Runners-up Mary Varela, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex; Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, West Yorks
The unclued lights are foreign cities, as known in their own countries. First prize Vicky Thomas, Apokoronas, Crete Runners-up Mrs F. Brimacombe, Bideford, Devon; Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex
The full quotation was ‘Mother, GIVE ME THE SUN’ (14/7) from Ghosts by HENRIK IBSEN (29/1D). Remaining unclued lights give ME THE SUN: MI/RA (12), MOI/RA (24), MOI/RE (25) and MI/RE (39). GHOSTS (in the ninth row) was to be shaded. First prize Pamela Moorey, London EC1 Runners-up A. & P. James, Winchester, Hants; Kenneth
Eight unclued lights are EXPERTS (24), whom — according to the words of LORD SALISBURY (9) supplied by superfluous and missing letters in definitions — ‘you never should trust’. First prize Mike Underwood, Auvillar, France Runners-up S. Riviere, Ansty, Wiltshire; Christine Twickel, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire
The twenty-two lochs which did not fit into the grid are, in order of their appearance in the story: Ainort, Awe, Eynort, Katrine, Eck, Nevis, Sunart, Cluanie, Eil, Hourn, Assynt, Maree, Melfort, Affric, Long, Tummel, Frisa, Treig, Tuath, Striven, Ericht, Alsh. First prize Charles Hastings, Upper Woolhampton, Berks Runners-up David Carpenter, Sutton Coldfield; Roderick
The part quotation was ‘WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE’ (15A/35/1D) from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by COLERIDGE (20). Remaining unclued lights, not in themselves indicating water, all consist of two parts that do: SEA/MED (3), KILL/DEE (6), MAIN/SPRING (19), PEE/WEE (30) and BURN BLUE (34D/25). First prize Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds Runners-up David Norwood,
Unclued lights are TYROS. Corrections of misprints (including one in the title) give the alternative title ROOKIES. First prize E. Hogg, London SW13 Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; C.S.G. Elengorn, Enfield, Middlesex
The unclued lights are headwords in Brewer under the SEVEN heading. The title indicates the sum ‘2114 divided by 302 = 7’ and so solvers had to include ‘7’ or ‘seven’ alongside their submitted solution. First prize Frank Maslen, London SW1 Runners-up Andrew James, Winchester; Dolf Mootham, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
The ‘circular chain’ (or RING CYCLE) of items was: RING CYCLE (anag of RECYCLING), GLYCERINE, GENERICAL, CAREENING, TANGERINE, ARGENTINA, WAGNERIAN, NORWEGIAN, ANGLE IRON, LOHENGRIN, RHEINGOLD, RE-FOLDING, GLORIFIED, FILIGREED, SIEGFRIED, REGICIDES, ISENERGIC, RECOGNISE, CONCIERGE, CRYOGENIC. WAGNER, whose bicentenary fell on 22 May, replaced the answer WAURST at 46 across. First prize Dr John Stabler, Fakenham,
Extra letters in clues give cancrine and Sotadean, both meaning PALINDROMIC, which describes each of the unclued lights and also the number and title of the puzzle. First prize Chris James, Ruislip Manor Runners-up P. and R. Dacre, York; Hugh Schofield, Paris
The unclued lights are the four members of ABBA (which means ‘father’), at 11/21, 12/40, 16/7 and 39/10. First prize Jason James, Cambridge Runners-up Mark Rowntree, London SE10; David Lumley, London SW5
Unclued lights are anagrams of seaside resorts in southern England: Paignton (1A), Seaford (32), Margate (33), Ramsgate (40), Salcombe (7), Ryde (15), Looe (21) and Worthing (22D). First prize Don Thompson, Bolton Runners-up A. Mulholland, Nottingham; Wilf Lewsey, East Leake, Loughborough
Unclued lights were winners of the NOBEL PRIZE (11A) for literature and their works. Each work contained a colour in the title, explaining how to shade the answer: MY NAME IS RED (1D); THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK (19D); THE GREAT GOD BROWN (15D); THE GREEN HOUSE (35D). First prize Jamie Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up Clare
The unclued lights are the surnames of the London WORTHIES, which had to be highlighted along the top row. First prize Eleanor Parker, Broadstairs, Kent Runners-up Roger Baresel, London SW7; D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent
FILM FANS (18) will know that numbers in the problem are linked to film titles: Seven BRIDES (1D) for Seven BROTHERS (22); The Four FEATHERS (5A); 12 ANGRY MEN (37/35); Five EASY PIECES (11/42). 7 x ([4 x 12] – 5) x 7 = 2107, the number of the CROSSWORD (19). First prize Katy Berry,
YEARLY FAST (30 3) defines LENT (36) and is also a cryptic indication of PAPACY (16A — i.e. pa + pacy). Lent is followed by EASTER (34), marked with a BLESSING (40) known as URBI ET ORBI (2) by the holder of the papacy, currently Pope FRANCIS (28A). First prize B. Taylor, Little Lever, Bolton
Monty Python’s Flying Circus (38/12/5) gave rise to 1D, 19 and 36/28 which starred 7 and 34 and Eric IDLE (puzzle’s title). First prize Mrs M.C. Conway, Sale, Manchester Runners-up Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds; Margaret Lusk, Preston, Lancs
