XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 728

ALDERMA(N) (N’s missing in def.)

1.  R. Postill (Jersey): M.C.C., probably well advised to ba-t, dissipated alarm about Dexter’s openers (De(xter) in anag.; MCC = Member of County Council; bant = diet, aldermanly = pompous & portly; ref. Ted D., England batsman).

2.  S. B. Green (NW10): Nearly all skin, beak, perhaps—that might cause a tur-key to immobilise you (al(l) derma; 2 defs.).

3.  J. Walters (SW1): Ma, pursuing fly, used to direct, say, Fli-t (alder ma; Gov. of shire, obs.).

H.C. (extra prizes)

C. Allen Baker (Milnathort): I give a tow- service: if I have a breakdown it makes me real mad! (anag.).

J. W. Bates (Westcliff-on-Sea): One who can get real mad when crossed: some diva-s have characters like this (anag.; divan = council).

P. R. Clemow (W5): Ge-t portly perhaps from local diet—where habitual sitters march you can take nearly a stone off (Aldermaston less ston(e); diet²; aldermanly = pompous & portly).

W. Darby (SE21): Did the Mayor -ever bid him to di-e he might say “What a bi-d!”—might even become alarmed (anag.).

N. C. Dexter (Corby): Ra-ked with beak, -early—a deal upset swallowing only half a worm ((wo)rm in anag.).

Brig W. E. Duncan (NW3): A lad astray ’ad strange dream—the ki-d of “Bow wi-dow” that might be Lord Mayor (a l(ad) + anag.; bow window = pot belly (old sl.); aldermanly = pompous & portly).

R. R. Greenfield (Ickenham): Having a fuddled dream after a litre, local bigwig ma-y eat his wi-g at Christmas (a L + anag.; 2 defs.; a. = slang for turkey, Brewer).

E. J. Griew (Ruislip): -Either Fi-do- -or Tri-g is so big that it is led by me- like this: lead twisted and arm bent (anag. + anag.).

A. J. Hughes (Sutton Coldfleld): A Daimler broke down (ignition lead gone): get a chap available for tow- service (anag. less i(gnition)).

L. W. Jenkinson (Bolton): A Daimler broken down (ignition lead missing)—I must try to order a tow- (anag. less i(gnition)).

F. P. Lake (Bramhall): I’m a tow- head—I may get fi-ery at times. When I’m real mad, I’m real mad! (anag.).

C. S. F. Oliver (Penrhyndeudraeth): He could be the Master of the Ski--ers from the Grindelwalder Mädelschüle (hidden; ref. skiing at G. girls’ school).

T. E. Sanders (Walsall): He may be defi-ed by M.C.C. not being alarmed as usual (anag.; MCC = Member of County Council).

R. E. Scraton (Hayes): Master’s after something like a birch for ki-d of local bigwig (alder MA).

Mrs E. M. Simmonds (Cookham Dean): I’d want Mother to make marmalade—a big pot for the old pri-ce (i.e. anag. of (Ma)rmalade; 2 defs.).

Dr C. P. Wroth (Cambridge): My variety performance may get you alarmed, but the Watch Committee was selected by me and ma-y like me! (anag.).

RUNNERS-UP (1)

R. T. Baxter, Mrs G. Bonsall, D. L. L. Clarke, J. Coleby, J. A. Fincken, G. P. Goddard, G. G. Lawrance, J. D. H. Mackintosh, Mrs D. Protheroe, B. G. Quin, J. M. Sharman, F. T. Walton

RUNNERS-UP (2)

J. K. Anderson, G. F. Bamford, B. Burton, R. S. Caffyn, E. Clark, G. H. Clarke, J. Cordery, V. Dawson, L. E. Eyres, M. S. Y. Fowler, Miss E. C. Gabbitas, J. Gill, T. J. Guffick, V. Jennings, T. P. Kelly, R. E. Kimmons, A. F. Lerrigo, H. Lyon, Mrs W. J. Mahood, T. A. Martin, A. McIntyre, J. W. M. Morgan, P. H. Morgan, C. J. Morse, F. E. Newlove, Miss M. J. Patrick, T. J. Pimbley, E. J. Rackham, Mrs J. Robertson, A. Robins, W. K. M. Slimmings, D. A. Smith, L. T. Stokes, Miss D. W. Taylor, Mrs M. P. Webber, B. W. Webster, P. G. Williams, M. Woolf.
 

COMMENTS:—An excellent entry of 469, with 401 correct: several came from afar—Australia, Singapore, Kenya and Sweden were represented. To allow for postal delays in the prevailing conditions, I waited for those that came on Wednesday and Thursday: there were over 40. Hence the lateness of this slip. The only common error was “roisterer”: this does not fully account for the clue. I regret very much that a few people misunderstood the instructions and a few others expressed doubt: I thought I had made it clear that I wanted a clue exactly like those given to the other acrosses. The fact that the N of “alderman” was in the diagram makes no difference to “on the principles used,” etc.: I had already said that it was an exception. Some competitors were ruled out for taking liberties with punctuation, capitals and even word-division such as I had not taken: for instance “kowtow” is one word, not two, and could not represent “know town.” But many hit off the idea extremely well: those in the R.U. (1) list were all originally on my short list of prize possibles. Unlucky competitors who would have been on that list but for errors in solution were P. G. Drazin, T. L. Strange (probable extra prizewinners), J. C. Brash, K. Reed, G. H. Wilde (probable R.U. (1)s). I had no hesitation about the first two prizewinners—both I consider outstandingly good: for third place there was a struggle at first but no doubt in the end.
 
I must apologise for a slip in one clue which only one competitor pointed out. HEAME is given as an adverb: I overlooked this and clued it as a noun.
 
I’m very glad the puzzle was so popular: thank you for many far too kind tributes. You may be amused to know that its origin was an idiotic mistake. When seeking an idea for No. 700 about this time last year, I muddle-headedly thought “700—LCC: could I do anything about the L.C.C.?” Eventually “Letters Latent” emerged. When it was all but complete, it at long last dawned on me that 700 was DCC! After a few well-chosen words, and an interval for calming down, I decided that I wasn’t going to waste it after spending a fair time on it, and that, though un-Christmassy, it might do for Dec. 23. (After all, “Gallimaufry” etc. aren’t Christmassy either). That’s how it happened.
 
Very many thanks for all the Christmas cards and good wishes, and a happy (and soon less arctic) New Year to all.