Crossword solution

The unclued lights are six US composers, at 4 and 24,  and the pairs at 9/11, 21A/32, 25/16 and 35/3. First prize Jed Brignal, Nottingham Runners-up Alan Hook, York; Lewis Corner, South Fremantle, Western Australia

The unclued lights are alcoholic drinks, and thus might be included, if one was getting a round in. First prize David Heath, Elston, Newark Runners-up Mrs J. Vernalls, Thame, Oxfordshire; David Jenkinson, Matlock, Derbyshire

Corrected definitions were: 12A camper; 15A bairn; 28A plants; 37A yearn; 39A fines (pl. of finis); 43A beard; 6D paras; 19D vice; 25D coin; 40D shot. Missing letters spelt MILES DAVIS, whose work 42A defines the other unclued lights. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Heather Kingham, Barnay, France; John Driver, London SE13

The unclued LIGHTS are LEADERS, verifiable under the entry for RULERS in Brewer. First prize Sandra Speak, Dursley, Glos Runners-up  P. and R. Dacre, York; Norma Jacobs, Linton, Wetherby

DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH (2A), SEE AMID THE WINTER’S SNOW (118), ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY (1) and WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED (19) are the opening words of Christmas carols, as are ‘I saw three ships come sailing in’. SIGHT (53) and ROUND WINDOW (8/92) each define ‘eye’, which sounds like ‘I’; GANG (39), PIT

Answers to clues in italics are pie (13), as (15), unled (22) and heel (27).  In each case it is necessary to PUT IN AN APPEARANCE (32 10) to create the grid entry.  Definitions of thematic entries are 3, 16, 40 and 12. First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up A.L. James, Winchester, Hants; P.J.W.

The unclued Down lights are PLAIN Janes and the unclued Across lights are SIMPLE Simons. First prize Di Arbuthnot, Hungerford, Berkshire Runners-up Nigel Woolliscroft, Newcastle-under-Lyme; Barry Butler, Birmingham

HAL DAVID (15) and ANDY WILLIAMS (12/19) died on the 1st and 25th September 2012. The former produced the LYRICS (29) of the OSCAR (4)-winning song ‘RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD’ (1A/18/39), while the latter made a successful ALBUM (33) of the same name. First prize Christopher Bull, Fleet, Hampshire Runners-up Jason James, Cambridge;

The unclued lights (16D/21? 16D/16A/23/38/24/11/14?) form a quotation by SHYLOCK in The Merchant of Venice. A number of references to the play and its opposition between Jews and Christians were included in the clues. First prize Hilda Ball, Belfast Runners-up Philip Hawkins, Matlock, Derbyshire; Michael Debenham, Shrewsbury

The unclued lights (including the pair at 3/34) are all buried in Père Lachaise (when translated may give ‘PA THE SEAT’) cemetery in Paris. First prize Heather Kingham, Barnay, France Runners-up Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorks; Olivia Ramage, Horfield, Bristol

HIEROSOLYMITAN (1D) means ‘of or relating to Jerusalem’. 15, 18, 27, 35A, 38, 5 and 12 may all be preceded by the word ‘Jerusalem’. Title: cf. ‘Jerusalem the golden’ (hymn) First prize Catherine Stekly, Fowlmere, Royston, Herts Runners-up Alexia Dobbs, London SW1; Ben Stephenson, London SW12

The key word is LOPHOBRANCH (7), defining 1A and 29A, and divisible into words of which synonyms are 20 and 36; 8A and 18; and 29D and 41. First prize R.C. Ingram, Wymondham, Norfolk Runners-up Catherine Ellis, Durham; P. West, Birmingham

The unclued lights are railway stations in London (1, 20 and 37), Birmingham (2/36 and 11), Bristol (6A/7), Manchester (16/38 and 19) and Edinburgh (30). First prize Jenny Atkinson, Chorleywood, Herts Runners-up I.F. Bush, Ealing; Mark Humble, London SW3

The perimeter quotation is the opening couplet of Marvell’s ‘To His Coy Mistress’. Remaining unclued lights in order 12A, 17A, 35A, 38A, 22D are anagrams of ‘Time’s wingèd chariot drawing near’. First prize Rhidian Llewellyn, Minchinhampton, Glos Runners-up Kenneth M. Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lincs

Unclued entries, when augmented by the letter that follows them in the grid, are all types of coffee or coffee bean.  The extra letter might be thought of as the coffee grounds. First prize Seamus McNeill, Belfast Runners-up Geoffrey Telfer, Shipley, W. Yorks; C.J. Ellis, Rochester

The unclued lights are the eight principal compilers who have set puzzles for this series from puzzle 1 to 2082 (hence the title). First prize Cathy Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up P.M. Powell, Topsham, Exeter; Richard Poole, Llandanwg, Gwynedd

Five unclued lights were to be VOWELLED (28) in a UNIQUE (2) way: CATAMARAN (4A), GEE-GEE (3), DISINHIBIT (39), BOOBOO (31) and SURUCUCU (21). First prize Albert Fowler, Bexleyheath, Kent Runners-up J.S. Roberts, Rodmell, East Sussex; C.G. Millin, Ramleaze, Wiltshire

Unclued lights are PRAYERS.  Corrections of misprints (including one in the title) give REQUIESCAT and PATERNOSTER. First prize Patricia Gibbs, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire Runners-up R. Colclough, Didsbury, Manchester; Christine El-Kadi, Sarisbury Green, Southampton

Each unclued light has no MAC on, but 30D (Macramé) does. First prize Stephen Gore, Seer Green, Bucks Runners-up John Cruickshank, Aberdeen; R.J. Green, Llangynidr, Crickhowell

A PENTAD (5) of COMPOSERS (12) lost the letters N, E and T: S[T]OCKHAUS[EN] (1A), S[T]AI[NE]R (18), SM[ET]A[N]A (37), HI[N]D[E]MI[T]H (3) and PAL[E]S[T]RI[N]A (27). First prize Mike Atkin, Butterton, Staffs Runners-up C.W. Hastings, Upper Woolhampton; J. Sanders, Southampton, Hants