XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 118

MARAVEDI

1.  C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Winds varied in the morning: hail during the day to the north of the Pyrenees: little change to the south (anag. of varied, a.m.; ave in mardi (Fr.Tuesday)).

2.  W. B. O’Hanlon (Wembley): Please read new script of drama I’ve just recast—a real part for you now (anag.of drama I’ve; part of a real).

3.  J. P. Lloyd (Swansea): The wreck of his fleet without a struggle didn’t, in the issue, make Philip lose face! (anag. of armad(a) + vie; ref. image of Philip II on coin).

H.C.

F. A. Clark (Croydon): In re Tadema, R.A. v. Editor of Spanish Modelling. Finding: one farthing, if that! (hidden; ref. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, RA).

J. H. Dingwall (N12): Tuesday, in France: intermittent hail; in Spain, little change (ave in mardi, (Fr. Tuesday)).

A. Mitchison (Coulsdon): Monday’s weather forecast for France (by Old Moor): hail after midday to-morrow (ave after middle of mardi (Fr. Tuesday); Moorish coin; i.e. little change in forecast; cf. ‘Old Moore’s Almanac’).

R. J. Pocock (Porthcawl): Discovered by a body of braves in 1501 (and by the padre in the collection?) (a (b)rave(s) in MDI).

Mrs M. G. Porter (SW13): Spanish main yields disappointing haul (cryptic def.; main = banker’s shovel).

A. R. Read (Sidcup): Reached Madeira about five, changed, and saw a little of the old Spanish capital (V in anag.).

T. E. Sanders (Walsall): Hail during Tuesday in Paris but little real change expected (ave in mardi, (Fr. Tuesday)).

O. Carlton Smith (Potters Bar): Very small change in Madrid; and in Madeira very small change, too (anag.; v. = very).

W. B. Wigley (Nottingham): Spanish Trifle. Make it with Madeira mixture and serve about five (V in anag.).

J. S. Young (SE2l): … Hail. Outlook for Tuesday districts Finistere—Biscay little change (ave in Mardi, (Fr. Tuesday)).

COMMENTS—225 correct and 3 frequent mistakes:—“scena” for SCENE (disregarding the need for a plural and the subsidiary clue), “sea-green” for PEA-GREEN (disregarding the reference to “pen” and to “peag” = beads), “arise” for PRISE (if “arise” were the answer, a clue to its meaning would have been given). The entry was rather larger than last time’s, but this puzzle also seems to have been harder than usual. To those who were puzzled by LOSER:—a “loser” is an “in-off” at billiards.
 
MARAVEDI proved an uninspiring word, the general standard of clues submitted being, I thought, well below average; but some good ones emerged.
 
Many thanks to many solvers for Christmas cards and for Christmas wishes: the same to all of you!
 
Finally I repeat a hint given last year:—if your name has appeared at all often in our lists and you intend to enter for the Christmas crossword composing competition (à la Everyman), I suggest that you enter under a borrowed name.
 
RUNNERS-UP—E. S. Ainley, D. Ambler, Maj P. S. Baines, E. A. C. Bennett, Rev B. Chapman, J. L. Crosby, L. Dixon, Brig W. E. Duncan, Dr J. N. Fell, Mrs N. Fisher, E. H. Freedman, E. H. M. Georgeson, S. B. Green, J. P. Hancox, E. L. Hayward, H. J. Howells, Mrs L. Jarman, Capt G. Langham, G. Perry, R. Postill, H. Rainger, H. Ingram Rees, E. O. Seymour, R. G. Tate, P. H. Taylor, T. R. Tear, L. E. Thomas, Capt C. Tyers, R. A. Whitley.