AZED CROSSWORD 521

ATTITUDINISE

1.  C. J. Morse: Strike poses a tricky test involving row between one small trade union and another one (I TU din I in a + anag. of test).

2.  J. H. Russell: Put it on forms and use it in triplicate (anag. of and use it it it).

3.  S. L. Paton: Shut up in a mad institute I would act up (I’d rev. in anag.).

VHC

C. Allen Baker: A nudist tie – crazy; pinning it could turn out to be a poser (it in anag.).

D. R. Appleton: Pose suited Titian’s composition (anag.).

M. Barley: Pose is not entirely chaste, having nudities flaunted (Atti(c) + anag.).

A. J. Bulman: Mince as served up in dietitian’s shift (ut (rev.) in anag.).

R. Dean: Turning out titian-suited is to show affectation (anag.).

Dr I. S. Fletcher: Institute aid after being attacked to make out-of-the-way stand, perhaps (anag.; ref. Falklands crisis).

O. H. Frazer: Posture? Famous escapologist, lacking moderation, assumes it in poor taste (it + (Ho)udini, all in anag.).

H. Freeman: Mince pie dietitians do up inside (ut (rev.) in anag.; do², pie vt.).

J. F. Grimshaw: Do as ‘posture-maker? It ain’t suited for cryptic treatment (anag.; ref. AZ comp. 508).

P. F. Henderson: I do it in ‘Statues’, wavering – —— so shakily, that is (comp. anag. & lit.; ref. party game).

V. G. Henderson: Bit of advice to girl restricted by imperfect nudities – put on a false front (a + tit in anag.).

J. P. H. Hirst: What poseurs do in garret, without scrap of cover on nudities possibly (atti(c) + anag.).

Mrs D. Jenkinson: Try to make a showy impression – flaunt sex-appeal in sporty suit and tie (it in anag.).

R. Jones: Assume airs initiate dust storm (anag.).

C. Loving: One from weaving suited Titania – ‘Bray’s divine! Did he do that?’ (anag. less a; ref. Bottom in MND and Vicar of B.).

D. F. Manley: India utters angrily about SA with the Right bursting out ‘Cant!’ (it in anag. less R; cant vi.).

T. J. Moorey: Redress is due, ain’t it about time to make a show? (anag. incl. t).

R. J. Palmer: Pose, one featured on its p.3 in sensational ‘Sun’ idea – it (tit^{1 (or 3!)} in anag.).

N. Roles: Play to the gallery in a duett? It is bravura! (anag.).

T. E. Sanders: Girl appearing in nude – it is a modelling pose (tit¹ in anag.).

W. J. M. Scotland: Camp? It’d suit a tent freak. (Time to get out for one?) (I for t in anag.).

T. A. J. Spencer: Pose suited Titian work (anag.).

M. S. Taylor: Go camping? At mixed nudist site I must avoid sun (at + anag. less S).

HC

D. W. Arthur, D. Ashcroft, Mrs A. Boyes, Mrs A. R. Bradford, C. Brougham, E. J. Burge, P. Cargill, E. Chalkley, D. L. L. Clarke, P. R. Clemow, Mrs D. M. Colley, D. A. Crossland, A. J. Crow, N. C. Dexter, M. B. Fisher, B. Franco, N. C. Goddard, S. Goldie, C. P. Grant, D. V. Harry, P. A. Hay, Mrs S. Hewitt, G. B. Higgins, E. M. Hornby, J. G. Hull, R. A. Hutchinson, A. H. Jones, C. L. Jones, F. P. N. Lake, C. W. Laxton, L. K. Maltby, S. M. Mansell, L. May, D. P. M. Michael, J. J. Moore, D. S. Nagle, F. E. Newlove, Lt Cmdr A. R. Nolan, S. C. Oviatt Ham, F. R. Palmer, R. F. Ray, D. R. Robinson, P. Rooney, W. K. M. Slimmings, F. B. Stubbs, J. B. Sweeting, R. T. Taylor, T. R. Theakston, D. Tompsett, N. W. Ward, R. J. Whale, Miss B. J. Widger, Dr E. Young.
 

COMMENTS
407 entries, quite a lot having BEADS for BEADY and a few NOBLE or COBLE for MOBLE. My BEADY clue was quite unambiguous but in retrospect I am not too happy about my clue to FERAL which overlapped with MOBLE and clearly caused problems. ‘Doubly belladonna-like?’ was intended to suggest the two meanings of FERAL, since deadly-nightshade is both deadly and wild (i.e. a wild flower). But I now think it unlikely that ‘feral’ is ever used of plants: more likely it is restricted to animal behaviour including humans. Also a number of eyebrows seem to have shot up at ‘Alan’s written off a lazy Jock’s fine’ for GUID. You have of course to see Alan as A LAN, the sort of doublethink that’s common enough in the reverse direction (i.e. running words together to form all or part of an answer) so I can’t really see a logical objection to it, though it’s possible I haven’t done such a thing before. GUID is one of those useful words when compiling a grid but the very devil to clue originally.
 
ATTITUDINISE came indecently soon after POSTURE-MAKER, quite apart from its being another 12-letter word. This was thoughtless of me, not intentional, and I only noticed what I’d done when it was too late to change the clue-word. Not many objected strongly and a few (e.g. JFG above) capitalised on it. The word elicited rather more improper clues than usual and whereas I’m no prude and not averse to a little naughty humour I know many would find it offensive if I picked for special mention clues of an obscene nature, however technically brilliant. So be warned: dirty clues won’t win prizes! And you’ll just have to decide for yourselves where to draw the line. I don’t think it’s difficult.
 
The clue that first stood out for me this month was Mr Loving’s. It is brilliantly conceived and only stumbles at the last hurdle – the definition implicit in the last four words. The Vicar of Bray wasn’t so much an attitudiniser as a time-server, a bender-with-the-wind, surely? Rather than assuming poses he shrewdly adapted to the changing political climate, adopting what in today’s jargon might be termed a low profile rather than an affected attitude. But a lovely idea, nonetheless, and worthy of mention.