AZED CROSSWORD 1906

MORSE

1.  Dr J. Burscough: Do crimes puzzle this DCI? (comp. anag. & lit.).

2.  D. Appleton: Real stars ——’s clues – scare us lesser mortals to bits (comp. anag. & lit.).

3.  T. J. Moorey: Master of entries of rare subtlety and elegance, some right crackers (M o’ r s e, anag. incl. r, & lit.).

VHC

D. Arthur: Recipe involved in cooking some sea creature, could be accompanied by chips (r in anag.; ref. ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’).

D. & N. Aspland: Theme using this code’s to get turned into Some Mothers sig tune (comp. anag.; ref. TV series ‘Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em’, signature tune of which used Morse code).

M. Barley: Here’s a set of firsts from me, outstanding regular soon eighty (first letters & lit.).

C. J. Brougham: Competitive clue writer, extra extra special (s in more).

P. Dauncey: Man! Oysters could turn this walrus nasty (comp. anag.; ref. ‘The W. and the Carpenter’).

W. Drever: Foremost of many Observer ‘regulars’ – solver extraordinaire? (first letters & lit.).

R. J. Heald: Clue composer recalling cop? (anag. less cop, & lit.).

M. Hodgkin: Carpenter’s mate perhaps getting bit (minus head) back out of hole in wood (mortise less (b)it (rev.); ref. ‘The Walrus and the C.’).

J. C. Leyland: You’ll find him dry wit, hard to beat in wordsmithery (comp. anag. incl. H, & lit.).

M. A. Macdonald-Cooper: One famed for cracking clues showing incipient misery over ridiculous style ‘Endeavour’ (first letters; ref. Inspector M.).

D. F. Manley: See me eating unfortunate oyster not yet developed (anag. less anag. in me, & lit.; ref. ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’).

P. W. Marlow: Cook some explorer ultimately? Endeavour’s memorably associated with him (anag. incl. r; ref. Capt James C. of ‘The Endeavour’ and E. Morse).

R. S. Morse: This top solver’s an erudite knight (with son entering too) (s in More; ref. Sir Thomas More and RSM, son of CJM).

D. P. Shenkin: Could this code, with a chip, be transformed into semaphoric? (comp. anag.).

N. G. Shippobotham: Primum or secundum he’s amongst the foremost in coining ‘justes mots’ (hidden, first letters giving CJM).

R. C. Teuton: ‘Cluing Maestro ’08’? That could be —— at 80 (comp. anag. & lit.).

K. Thomas: One eating oysters with chips – a short bite? (morse(l); ref. ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’).

D. H. Tompsett: Puzzle-solver who’s something extra … enthralling in his style … (S (in Morse code) in more).

A. J. Wardrop: In Azed competitions an ace & lit combines delicacy and a certain something (i.e. Morse + lit = morsel it).

A. J. Young: What would help cope with loose braids – extra grips succeeded (s in more; morse²).

HC

D. K. Arnott, M. Barker, Dr P. M. J. Bennett, J. G. Booth, T. C. Borland, C. Boyd, K. Brough, Rev Canon C. M. Broun, C. J. & M. P. Butler, P. Cargill, D. Carter, B. Cheesman, C. A. Clarke, R. M. S. Cork, E. Cross, N. C. Dexter, V. Dixon, I. Doak, C. M. Edmunds, A. S. Everest, J. Fairclough, C. D. S. & E. A. Field, Dr I. S. Fletcher, P. D. Gaffey, R. Gilbert, G. I. L. Grafton, Mrs E. Greenaway, J. F. Grimshaw, P. Heffernan, P. F. Henderson, Mrs S. G. Johnson, G. Johnstone, E. C. Lance, W. F. Main, L. F. Marzillier, P. McKenna, C. G. Millin, A. J. Moore, C. J. Morse, R. A. Norton, F. R. Palmer, R. J. Palmer, G. S. Parsons, M. L. Perkins, A. Plumb, Dr T. G. Powell, A. M. Price, D. Price Jones, W. Ransome, D. Sargent, Mrs R. Scott, D. J. Short, I. Simpson, B. Solomons, P. L. Stone, J. R. Tozer, Mrs C. Velarde, L. Ward, A. West, R. J. Whale, A. Whittaker, G. H. Willett, D. C. Williamson, Dr E. Young.
 

Comments
236 entries, a small handful of mistakes (all TRIPE for TRIPY). Many paid tribute to CJM’s outstanding record over the years and were pleased to be reminded of a few of his many winning clues. I should like to have included more but to do so I would have had to sacrifice grid symmetry, something I was loath to do. Of the 27 clues (both his and mine) nominated as favourites, first equal were Jeremy’s wonderful ‘Marlborough’s second crusher in conclusive quartet of victories’ (RAMILLIES) and my ‘Unfit, I am in favour of exercise and runs’ (IMPROPER). Of the italicized clues only that for PEARL gave any trouble, despite my heavy hint in the preamble. (In case the penny hasn’t yet dropped, it has to do with wedding anniversaries, as listed in one of the appendices in Chambers.) I was lucky enough be included in two separate celebrations for Jeremy’s 80th, a party for family and friends at the Hurlingham Club and a special lunch in the gallery of the Inner Temple Hall given by the Gruntlings (a group of Azed enthusiasts who meet regularly for lunch to chew over competition entries and other such matters). Both were extremely enjoyable occasions, featuring speeches by CJM himself among others.
 
If any of you would like to make a donation in memory of Anthony Ellis, his widow Evelyn has suggested giving to the Shaw Society, of which Anthony was a member for some sixty years (see http://www.shawsociety.org.uk for more information). John Tozer has kindly offered to collect donations. Please send cheques payable to J. R. Tozer, marked ‘Anthony Ellis’ on the back, to John’s home address, letting him know if you require an acknowledgement.
 
Roy Dean asks me to invite your interest in ‘Fine Tuning’, a recorded concert of his words and music available from Da Capo Music, New Century Classics, NCC 2006, or on CD, CTRS 1030.
 
And my sincere thanks for all the cards and other Christmas greetings to me and my family from so many of you. It is comforting to know that my weekly offerings continue to divert and entertain amid the encircling gloom. Onward, ever onward.