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2283: Be damned

The unclued lights (one of two words, one of three and-another of four components) are of a kind. Chambers gives only a cognate of the solution at 7 Down.   Across 9    River in middle of West Bank city (4) 11    Seafarer of marked individuality, but primitive (10) 12    Clear illustration includes appendage of seed

to 2280: Acorns

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.

2280: Acorns

The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Ignore one apostrophe.   Across   1     Top for one dining in Cornwall? (7) 11     Rainy weather trapped everyone, in case (6) 12     Chosen the same, leaderless (7) 14     Old sweetheart at short race track (5) 16     Hang around. Look

to 2277: Royalty

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

2277: Royalty

Having solved the puzzle, solvers are required to highlight a 2×2 square which contains the four letters of the otherwise unclued theme word. This theme word can be paired with five of the unclued lights. The resulting pairs are then defined by the remaining five unclued lights (two of two words), all of which can

to 2274: round and round

The unclued lights are stations of the London Underground CIRCLE Line. BAYSWATER is the paired theme-word. Solvers had to highlight TOWER HILL in yellow, as per the Line’s colour on a London Tube Map.   First prize Janet Hill, Brighton Runners-up Gay Roper, Weston Underwood, Bucks; Don Young, Oldham

2274: Round and round

The perimeter squares yield six theme-words in order, though any one of them can come first. The remaining unclued lights (two individually and a pair) reveal three more theme words. Solvers are asked to highlight in the appropriate colour a final two-word theme-word hidden in two rows in the completed grid.   Across   6   

to 2271: I’m not here or there

All but one of the unclued lights can be preceded by DOCTOR (or in one case DOC). The title also explains why DOC’s name (as the compiler) was omitted from the heading of the puzzle. Solvers were required to highlight CAPE at 38 Down which yields ‘Cape Doctor’ where Doctor follows rather than precedes the

To 2268: In state

The unclued lights are US STATE CAPITALS. First prize Stewart Jones, Winchester, Hants Runners-up John M. Brown, Rolleston-on-Dove, Staffs; Gareth Davies, Langstone, Newport

2268: In state

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer among other reference books. Elsewhere, ignore one grave accent.   Across 1    Complete support for defender (8) 6    Wan painting child’s vehicle (6) 11    Novice leads the experts, then ties (5) 14    Calm meeting in silence (6) 16    Slight, and slightly

To 2265: POURING

The unclued lights Across are CATS and the unclued lights Down are DOGS.   First prize John Kitchen, Breachwood Green, Herts Runners-up Matthew Hudson, Stoneleigh, Surrey; Patrick Tremlett, Nedlands, Western Australia

2265: Pouring

The unclued Across lights (two of two words) are of a kind, as are the unclued Down ones, all verifiable in Brewer 19th edition.   Across   1    Originally inexperienced, feels skill growing (12, two words) 12    Outlet I left, working out rota for a breather (10) 14    Some greet Andalusian character (3) 17    Lawgiver cut

To 2262: Numbers game

The unclued Across lights are ANAGRAMS of French numbers (22: trente, 24: soixante, 26: sept, 29: onze, 43: trois) and the Down lights of German numbers (3: vier, 4: hundert, 10: sechs, 40: acht, 41: drei).   First prize G. Jones, London SW1 Runners-up Sue Topham, Elston, Newark; S.J.J. Tiffin, Cockermouth, Cumbria

2262: Numbers game

The unclued Across lights are of one linguistic kind and the unclued Down lights are of another, all of which solvers must figure out.   Across   1    Busy person squeezing scab on carpet (6) 7    Cilla’s out gathering what Novello suggested (6) 12    Ends of the line abolished at privatisation? (9) 13    Come down

To 2259: Eco

The unclued lights can be preceded by GREEN which had to be shaded in green, as indicated in the solution grid.   First prize Vincent Clark, Frant, East Sussex Runners-up Michael Grosvenor Myer, Haddenham, Cambridge; Emma Staveley, Oxford

2259: Eco

The unclued lights (one of two words) can be preceded by the same word which is hidden in the completed grid. Solvers must highlight this word appropriately. All resulting phrases are verifiable in Brewer. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across   1    Ought to be quiet when dreadfully loud (6) 7    Elysian areas of knowledge? (6)

To 2256: 11 x 11

The unclued lights reveal ELEVEN (five English and six Scottish) league football teams (3/38, 4/1D, 10, 14, 18, 18/28, 19, 26, 27/1D, 28, 36 {City}). 1 Down has to become ROVERS. First prize Margaret Shiels, Edinburgh Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N. Yorkshire

2256: 11 x 11

The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or paired, are of a kind, with 1 Down as a plural. Two of these unclued lights do double duty to reach the number indicated in the title. Ignore one apostrophe and, elsewhere, an acute accent. Chambers does not confirm 25A.   Across   1    What a

To 2253: Your starter for ten

FIRST, the ‘starter’ solution at 10 Down, can be linked with the other unclued lights, with it also appearing twice in ‘First things first’. First prize P.E. Berridge, Gosberton, Lincolnshire Runners-up John C. Edwards, Ightham, Kent; Professor Colin Ratledge, Beverley, E. Yorkshire

2253: Your starter for ten

One ‘unclued’ light, as the title suggests, can be paired (on one occasion twice) with each of the other unclued lights, (one of two words), all verifiable in Brewer. Alphabetical order takes priority in the unclued solution at 36A.   Across   1    Builders’ aid marketed outside greasy spoon in Gabon (11) 7    Chap who’s