XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 86

ODOMETER

1.  R. W. J. Newton (Bristol): Bishop with nothing to do, having met with her in London, clicks at the turning of the nave (Odo or 0 do, met ’er, ref. Odo, Bishop of Bayeux 1049–1067; nave²=hub).

2.  Rev B. Chapman (Wisbech): The Home Secretary uses his motor illegally—that’ll check his career! (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

3.  Rev L. Blackburn (Croydon): Round the Cathedral three times (on a bike?) (O dome ter).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): “It’s nothing to do with me-me-me...” This may prove a broken record (0 do me ter, i.e. ‘me’ three times).

Mrs A. Barkas (Whiteleaf): Record-maker set on turning cart-wheels from Edinburgh to Rome (anag. of Ed. to Rome).

C. H. F. Bentley (W. Kirby): Just but inhuman judge on circuit (Odo meter & lit.; cryptic def.; ref. Odo of Bayeux, first Chief Justice of England).

Miss P. J. Blamey (SE1): Revolver attachment—for counting the rounds? (cryptic def.).

Col Campbell (Lochgilphead): How many rounds does this indicate? O, the same on me three times (O do. me ter).

F. A. Clark (Croydon): Tells tales of revolutions, disquieting me—too Red! (anag. of me too red).

F. L. Constable (Diss): I count each successive revolution to be the crack of doom heralding eternity (anag. of doom, eter(nity)).

Mrs N. Fisher (Stroud): Records the progress of the Home Secretary, injured in a motor crash (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

I. C. Gilchrist (SE23): Counter revolutionary disorder involves the Home Secretary in motor smash (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

D. Hawson (Malton): A check on all revolutions might make me too red (anag. of me too red).

R. Macleod (St. Andrews): A counter-revolutionary is a wrong-doer to me (anag. of doer to me).

A. R. McInroy (Edinburgh): Axis associate, specialising in revolutionary measures (cryptic def. ref. Axis powers in WWII).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): O for a change in moderate reform to make this revolution totter! (anag. of moderate with o for a).

D. P. M. Michael (Newport): It’s a revolutionary measure that would make me red too! (anag. of me red too).

W. L. Miron (Nottingham): Dialled instrument recording volume displaced in river (anag. of tome in Oder).

P. M. Newey (Reading): Headless body of long-haired star found in German river: Revolutionary measure indicated? ((c)omet in Oder).

G. H. Podmore (Altrincham): Axis instrument: not counter-revolution but the reverse (i.e., revolution counter; cryptic def. ref. Axis powers in WWII).

P. H. Rowley (Birmingham): Counts each turn round the cathedral three times (O dome ter).

E. O. Seymour (Gerrards Cross): The Home Secretary mixed up in the motor racket! A revolutionary measure is called for (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

O. Carlton Smith (Potters Bar): “Nothing to do with me … nothing to do with me … nothing to do with me” Have too many revolutions broken down my recording? (0 do me ter, i.e. ‘0 do me’ three times).

A. H. Taylor (Peterborough): Axis Satellite checks Revolution (cryptic def. ref. Axis powers in WWII).

T. R. Tear (N8): Counter revolutionary involves Home Secretary in motor smash (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

J. Thompson (Coventry): You may reorganise or demote if you like, but it’s a revolutionary measure (anag. of or demote).

E. Wagstaff (SW18): Home Secretary injured in motor accident: revolutionary activity indicated (anag. of Ede motor; ref. James Chuter Ede, Home Secretary 1945–1951).

A. F. Webb (W1): Rota measure set up concerning the Letters Primary of Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury (re tem(ple) Odo (rev.); ref. Odo ‘the Severe’, Archbishop of Canterbury 941–958).

Comments.—350 correct. Chief cause of trouble—GREASE GUNS: other versions do not satisfy the part of the clue which indicated “snug.” MAAS, on the other hand, is accepted: he was a Dutch painter, and “maas” is sufficiently suggestive of “pastoral voices”—since the name is a recognised word, “maas” need not be.
 
A high standard led to a long honours list. The winner’s “in London” is perhaps hardly enough to suggest the dropped H, but the rest of the clue is so brilliant that this had to be overlooked. One H.C. clue anticipates part of a clue in a future X puzzle, already composed: I shan’t change it, though!
 
Some runners-up.—E. S. Ainley, D. Ashcroft, H. W. Brister, Cpl N. Christie, D. Connell, A. G. G. Cooper, E. C. Double, E. G. Durham, L. E. Eyres, C. C. M. Giffin, P. G. W. Glare, W. E. Green (Ulverston), J. D. Hastings, R. Hayden, J. J. Hilary, H. C. Hills, A. Hodgkinson, G. C. Howes, F. P. Hussey, Mrs Jarman, Mrs Laing, G. G. Lawrance, J. P. Lloyd, R. Lumley, D. H. J. Marchant, G. C. Mason, E. L. Mellersh, J. Morrison, B. Murray, B. C. Newman, J. D. P. O’Leary, E. W. Padgett, Rev E. B. Peel, R. Postill, E. H. Pyle, T. W. Rigg, W. O. Robertson, N. F. Rogers, N. Roles, T. E. Sanders, R. Savage, J. A. Stafford, W. B. Taggart, W. C. Tame, L. W. Titman, F. L. Usher, H. D. Wakely, W. R. Watson-Smyth, A. E. Wynne.
 
And so to bed—1 a.m.—to dream, perhaps, of expending my personal [ration] points on maas-baas!