XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 984

Word containing a first name (Anonymous)

1.  P. R. Clemow: One who displays undies having no intention of concealing anything (T-RUTH-FUL; Draper, comedienne; def.).

2.  L. W. G. Oxley: A marble bust of the great Athenian (P-ERIC-LEAN; Ambler, author; anag.).

3.  C. I. Bullock: Lying behind a shop counter is where you’ll find him (UNT-RUTH-FUL; Draper, comedienne; def.).

V.H.C.

C. Allen Baker: Ant-killer should be scattered under the rose (ESOT-ERIC-ALLY; Linklater, author; anag.; i.e. sub rosa).

N. C. Dexter: Go out after game—like those disappointed after England’s World Cup victory (P-ROGER-MAN; Hunt, footballer; def.).

K. J. Harding: Thingumajig made pass: Aunt’s flabbergasted (TIMENO-GUY; de Maupassant, author; anag).

B. G. Holland-Martin: Casement was this sort of window (P-ROGER-MAN; Casement, traitor; def.).

C. H. Hudson: Santa’s made up badly—a makeshift affair (TIMENO-GUY; de Maupassant, author; anag.).

Sir S. Kaye: Bond’s after a bit—pretty hot stuff (TURM-ERIC; Linklater, author; link later; ’s = has).

Dr W. I. N. Kessel: Makeshift wrongly made-up Santas (TIMENO-GUY; de Maupassant, author; anag.).

N. A. Longmore: Learner stuck in the middle of the traffic-lights is having a fit (HYST-ERIC-AL; Ambler, author; L in amber).

J. L. Mackie: Being rotund, he walks at an easy pace (SPH-ERIC-ITY; Ambler, author; def.).

Mrs E. McFee: Genus of fish-like creatures long found in fossil resin (PT-ERIC-HTHYS; Ambler, author; L in amber).

E. L. Mellersh: Connection coming in time—it’s nonsensical with five lines in use (LIM-ERIC-K; Linklater, author; link later).

D. P. M. Michael: Humorous verse—in retrospect, concerning utter nothing (LIM-ERIC-K; Linklater, author; re talk nil (rev.)).

C. J. Morse: It’s a critical time to go slow with recovery barely beginning (CLIMACT-ERIC; Ambler, author; amble r).

W. G. Mowforth: What some Christmas cards have—those from the New World (AM-ERIC-ANS; Robinson, conductor; robins on).

L. S. Pearce: May supply articles of feminine attire without foundation (T-RUTH-LESS; Draper, comedienne; def.).

Mrs N. Perry: Having a rounded, solid figure I’m a slow mover (SPH-ERIC-AL; Ambler, author; def.).

R. Postill: Some Christmas cards have messages of religious significance (P-ERIC-OPES; Robinson, conductor; robins on).

F. B. Stubbs: Underwater breathing apparatus used to be unsafe (P-ERIC-ULOUS; Gill, sculptor; def.).

J. B. Sweeting: Divine lesson—many Christmas cards have this (P-ERIC-OPE; Robinson, conductor; robins on).

Miss E. Thomas: Casement’s sort of inclination when set in mortar (P-ROGER-MAN; Casement, traitor; as in cement).

H.C.

R. H. Adey, Dr G. B. Arrowsmith, P. C. Barclay, A. J. Barnard, J. W. Bates, P. F. Bauchop, Maj A. S. Birt, L. A. Boutwood, R. Brain, J. C. Brash, B. W. Brook, Rev C. M. Broun, R. S. Caffyn, J. H. Cleary, Miss G. Cowan, F. E. Dixon, Mrs W. Fearon, R. P. C. Forman, J. Fryde, J. Gill, D. Hawson, E. M. Hornby, A. J. Hughes, G. Johnstone, H. J. Kilpatrick, A. Lawrie, Mrs B. Lewis, Mrs S. M. Macpherson, H. S. Mason, N. O’Neill, D. F. Paling, F. R. Palmer, W. H. Pegram, D. C. Pleece, Mrs A. Price, D. G. Putnam, F. B. Ramsey, G. H. Ravenor, A. Sellings, E. O. Seymour, J. M. Sharman, N. E. Sharp, Mrs E. M. Simmonds, R. A. Smith, Brig R. F. E. Stoney, H. G. Tattersall, P. H. Taylor, P. C. Thornton, D. J. Thorpe, G. A. Tomlinson, H. S. Tribe, G. R. Webb, J. B. Widdowson, Mrs H. D. Williams.
 

COMMENTS:—I knew this would be a tough proposition and was pleased to receive well over 200 entries, with few mistakes in solution except for a small crop of “roost” for “roast”; besides being incorrect in the phrase “to rule the r.”, a roost is not a joint, so it wouldn’t do. I was glad that so many solvers said they enjoyed the struggle, which evidently took a long time; I think it might be a good idea, when I use this idea again, to indicate the lengths of the surnames, as one or two solvers suggested. The notes with the solution in the paper will have settled all doubts about names which weren’t discovered.
 
I thought it fair to give successful solvers, after such a struggle, a comparatively easy task in clue-writing with a choice of names. There was good variety and all the names offered were freely used, though Simon hasn’t found his way into the list of clues printed above; he figured largely in the long minor list. My task of selection wasn’t easy, because of the variety of names; but I felt pretty sure about the prizewinners in the end. There was very little unsoundness in the clues sent, but once again the thing I have been preaching against lately turned up in its most blatant form—”the first” to indicate T; let me repeat that “the first” is not English for “first of the”. Many thanks for appreciative notes and for good wishes and greetings, which I reciprocate.
 
[Archive note: clues contain a definition of a word of the entrant’s choice and wordplay leading to the surname of a notable person whose first name is hidden in the word.]