AZED CROSSWORD 401

GO-AHEAD

1.  N. C. Goddard: Driving licence (2 mngs.).

2.  E. M. Holroyd: One may get less so from age and lose dash (comp. anag. & lit.).

3.  D. H. Tompsett: Where the kokum’s found nut butter certainly is (Goa head; b. = one who butts).

VHC

E. A. Beaulah: Like the West Indies batting? 500 for 1 would immortalize it! (i.e. godhead with a for D).

Mrs A. Boyes: Up-and-coming Spanish artist with cape; no call for end to tauromachy there (Go(y)a head).

Rev C. M. Broun: Progressive theologian’s study is filled with articles about man (he in a, a in God).

A. J. Crow: Pop has a froth – it’s O.K. (go a head; pop, go = attempt).

R. V. Dearden: Full of beans – one bean after another (Goa + head; G. bean).

B. Greer: A chap without drive is the opposite of this (i.e. a he in goad, & lit.).

P. A. Hay: West Indian captain? Strong on drive (Goa head).

V. G. Henderson: In the nature of one who’s mighty high-powered, active rather than dead (godhead with a for d., & lit.).

I. A. Herbert: Turn on green light (go ahead).

Mrs N. Jarman: Like Joe Lampton, with room for an affair at the top (go a- head; ref. ‘Room at the Top’; go = affair).

N. Kemmer: Two sorts of bean – likely to be full of them (Goa head; G. bean).

R. E. Kimmons: Success with any crumpet means the answer’s ‘yes’ (go a head).

A. Lawrie: Conductor gives me violin part to be added to incomplete score (goa(l) + head).

C. W. Laxton: After status? Mayfair has it (i.e. Go ahead; ref. squares on Monopoly board).

C. Loving: This time could ruin adagio theme (comp. anag. & lit.).

D. F. Manley: Being above all active rather than dead (godhead with a for d., & lit.).

C. G. Millin: What’s indicated by green man – one in commercial (go + he a in ad, & lit.; ref. road safety ads).

C. J. Morse: Active, explosive, bursting to move forward (a HE in goad, & lit.).

F. R. Palmer: A man without drive is the opposite of this (i.e. a he in goad, & lit.).

R. J. Palmer: Simple description of Bishop – a man advanced in divinity (a he A in God; ref. Peter S.’s ‘the go-ahead Bishop of Bevingdon’).

C. W. Robins: For clearance – in perfect condition – a cape! (go a head; go adj.).

F. B. Stubbs: Third in Divinity should be superseded by one with ambition (godhead with a for d).

G. Wearing: Brisk drive – in the van perhaps? (go ahead).

Dr R. L. Wynne: Smart try-on! (go ahead).

HC

E. Akenhead, C. Allen Baker, T. Anderson, W. Anderson, Dr K. W. Andrews, D. R. Armitage, M. J. Balfour, Miss G. Barker, M. Barnes, Mrs F. Blanchard, Mrs A. R. Bradford, A. J. Bulman, E. J. Burge, E. Chalkley, J. H. Chinner, C. A. Clarke, E. A. Clarke, P. R. Clemow, M. Coates, A. G. Corrigan, Mrs M. P. Craine, Miss M. Cropper, A. E. Crow, P. W. Davenport, R. Dean, A. L. Dennis, N. C. Dexter, H. F. Dixon, R. P. Dowling, P. S. Elliott, J. C. Felton, A. S. G. Fish, Dr I. S. Fletcher, R. P. C. Forman, J. D. Foster, A. L. Freeman, F. D. Gardiner, S. Goldie, M. Goodyear, Dr J. F. Grimshaw, B. Hancock, E. F. Hancock, A. O. Harries, D. V. Harry, P. F. Henderson, Mrs J. Hesketh, J. P. H. Hirst, S. Holgate, C. H. Hudson, C. L. Jones, B. K. Kelly, F. P. N. Lake, M. D. Laws, J. H. C. Leach, A. D. Legge, J. P. Lester, C. J. Lowe, M. A. Macdonald-Cooper, D. J. MacKay, Dr R. A. Main, Rev W. P. Manahan, W. F. Martin, H. S. Mason, H. W. Massingham, L. May, D. McDonald, W. A. McFarland, J. McGhee, Mrs P. F. McGoldrick, W. L. Miron, T. J. Moorey, Dr F. Morgan, D. S. Nagle, P. A. Nicolson, Dr P. Owen, N. O’Neill, J. C. Parsons, W. H. Pegram, S. P. Perkins, Mrs E. M. Phair, D. R. Pitcher, D. R. Robinson, B. F. Russell, D. L. Sabey, T. E. Sanders, W. J. M. Sanders, A. D. Scott, J. A. Sefton, D. P. Shenkin, J. Solon, T. A. J. Spencer, J. G. Stubbs, R. C. Teuton, L. E. Thomas, Dr P. W. Thompson, E. Tingle, I. Torbe, M. A. Vernon, Mrs G. Wilkinson, D. B. Williams, Mrs F. Woodward, K. J. Wright, Dr E. Young.
 

COMMENTS
An excellent competition, with 610 entries and not an error in sight. The dreadful weather must have meant fewer Sunday afternoon walks and thus more time to concentrate on the puzzle. I hope the solution notes will have clarified the occasional instances of perplexity among solvers.
 
Cluing was also of a high standard, making judging difficult but pleasing. The most popular ideas, naturally, were those which had a man surrounded by some form of stimulus (and thus achieved an ‘& lit.’ effect) and variants on ‘West Indian captain with initiative’. As usual only the best of these made the quoted lists, and if it seems as though the Old Guard occupy the top league in greater strength than usual it’s precisely because they achieved the neatest wording even when using a much-used idea. Less experienced competitors are invited to compare their own clues with those above – I should be surprised if they don’t see the difference.
 
No more this month. Apart from the usual pre-Christmas activity I’m in the throes of decorating an extension to the Thatched Cottage, a wearisome and messy business. Thank you for all your cards and Christmas greetings. As the decade draws stormily to its close my wife and I wish you all the warmest good wishes for Christmas and the new year.