Extra letters in jumbles, plus INITIALS (37) of clues, give the saying ‘Where the carcase is, there shall the eagles be gathered together’. The carcase in the grid is a MORKIN, accounting for the presence of six eagles. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up C.V. Clark, London WC1; M.F. O’Brien, London N12
First prize Cheryl Bacon, Hitchin, Herts Runners-up Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lancashire; Michael Smith, Aldershot, Hampshire
Six unclued lights are names for HELL (12), which is ‘A CITY MUCH LIKE LONDON’ (38 43) according to a quotation by SHELLEY. First prize J.H. Peevers, Didmarton, Glos Runners-up Chris James, Ruislip Manor, Middlesex; J. Smithies, Guernsey
The unclued lights (including the pair at 36/9) are islands on the ORKNEYS (an anagram of ‘Yonkers’). Solvers had to highlight the three letters HOY of the solution at 39D (Ahoy), which is ‘a call’, hence the wording in the preamble. First prize M. Williamson, Chelmsford, Essex Runners-up Mrs Pamela Bealby, Stockton-on-Tees; Robert Hinton,
‘OFF WITH HER HEAD (1A)!’ was screamed by the Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Remaining unclued lights were girls’ names minus their first letters: [M]ARIA (9), [P]AULA (12), [C]ATHERINE (15), [I]SABELLA (22), [F]RANCES (29), [B]RIGID (33) and [A]MELIA (34). HEARTS (14) was to be shaded. Title: [A]LICE. First prize Julie Sanders, Bishops
LETHAL BITES (14 7) and BLITHE TALES (36 33) are possible results of the STORMING (19) of THE BASTILLE (an event commemorated on 14/7). Definitions of the components of the results are 23, 31, 11 and 8. First prize P. Langdale, London N10 Runners-up Alan Donovan, Croydon; John Light, Addlestone, Surrey
Each unclued light (or the pair at 3/19D) is a heraldic ORDINARY, as shown in Brewer 17th edition, page 662. First prize Mrs D. Crichton, Golant, Fowey, Cornwall Runners-up R.B. Briercliffe, Isle of Man; Hugh Schofield, Paris
