1 ORGIAST S.L. Paton
Before the heart ensares one, one likes to go on a binge
(or + a in gist)
5 SCEUOPHYLAX P.R. Clemow
Adult executive involved with holy cups
(anag. & lit: A, ex, abbr.)
10 LINGERIE G.M. Hornby
Miss Greer, rejecting man, wears none up on top
(nil rev + Germaine less man; ref Women’s Lib activist)
14 Anagram of five animals N.C. Dexter
Rain-storm plashed; all animals, put hither, keep drier
(TERRAPIN HERMIT ELEPHANT ARMADILLO RHESUS)
18 EPIGONE GA Tomlinson
Greek character lost after Eteokles’ onset?
(E, pi, gone & lit; Seven Against Thebes)
23 SCLERODERMIC Rev. C.D. Westbrook
Little sign of red after almost merciless thrashing with rod - if one’s this
(merciles(s) rod anag. + c(cent) & lit.)
27 VINEGAR J.P.H. Hirst
Given unconventionally for Jack’s head
(anag. replacing t of tar, & lit, ref. Jack & Jill). Azed subsequently had second thoughts about the use of a participle to define a noun, and this remains controversial.
31 KITCHENDOM D.F. Manley
It incorporates equipment around woman of the house
(kit c hen dom, & lit.)
36 CRUSADER M.L.Perkins
Campaigner in old company holding steadfast to right
(sad in crue + r, & lit; to = beside)
40 FANTOCCINI T. Anderson
What can excite the most original of children if I cannot?
(anag. inc. c, & lit.)
43 A neologism J.D. Brightley
Crabcrumpet (for self-appointed watchdog on morality - or something like that!)
(“Neologism” of 11 letters beginning A-G with one of five meanings.)
45 NEMORAL L.F.Leason (A Robins)
Learn manoeuvres clumsily with second lining of the brakes
(mo in anag.)
50 CORPULE(N)T (Letters Latent) H.A.C. Darwen
I’m to be top cluer for a change. I’m not coming in in the middle
(anag)
53 ALEXANDERS H.W. Massingham
A worthy original ingredient of salads?
(Alexander + s; Nine Worthies)
57 MINARET (Printer’s Devilry) Mrs. N.J. Jarman
Bunter-whine starts with ja/w open: “Cease - condone - Wharton, please!”
(Bunter whines, “Tarts with jam in are twopence. A second one, Wharton, please!”)
62 SOLITAIRES T.E. Sanders
No Double Diamonds? In the sun one gets weary without one
(sol i + a in tires, without = outside; ref beer)
66 NONSENSE C.O.Butcher
A bit of silliness - being in love is just that
(s ens in none)
70 GESTAPO (Misprints) H.W. Massingham
Sound - a step in broadcasting - helped establish Reith
(Reich; anag in go)
75 GROCETERIA J.A. Fincken
Try it for, e.g. cream crackers - forget F&M!
(anag. less F, M; Fortnum and Mason)
79 SLAPSTICK Rev. C.M. Broun
Marx-style programme: Comrades in Revolution Unite!
(pals rev. + stick, ref. Marx Brothers)
84 MIRLIGOES/ILL-OMENED K.W. Johnson
Jock’s dizziness, caused by topless female in centre of motorway, sets off unfortunate, mile long, mostly end-on crashes
((g)irl in M1 + goes; mile l endo(n) anag.)
88 BLOOMERY J.R. Kirby
May make ore semi-molten by suppressing it
(ore mol(ten) anag. in by)
92 BRAINWASH L. May
Bust down reason?
(bra in wash)
95 THUNDERCLAP S. Goldie
Levin gave warning of this crash - a report in The Times?
(levin = lightning; The Thunderer)
97 TREBUCHET W.L Miron
‘... slings ... arms ... no more ... perchance ... the rub ...’ etc.
(anag; ref Hamlet 3, iii)
100 CENTENARIAN D.F. Manley
An ancient the Queen may get excited
(anag. inc ER & lit.; ref. Royal telegram)
105 Anagram of six animals J. Horwood
A very horrible anagram I’ll clue: “Who once abode on Ararat?”
(MALABAR-RAT RACCOON NYLGHAU ORIOLE ABERDEVINE HOWLER)
110 GALLOWS-RIPE F.R. Palmer
Such as rope and gravity will settle
(anag inc. g)
114 PANIC Mrs E. Allen
This grass will do for a picnic - there’s no one about
(anag less i, c)
118 OPERETTIST (Misprint) N. Gambier
Trio and septet orchestrated for Strads, e.g.
((Oskar) Straus; anag.)
123 SCATTERGOOD W.K.M. Slimmings
Namely, one never tight - therefore in the red?
(sc. a TT ergo o/d & lit.)
127 FRITHSOKEN C.O. Butcher
It must have reduced the risk of ending in prison
(anag. + n & lit.)
130 EADISH (Printer’s Devilry) L.J. Wayman
Middle age? Spr/int to get fitter
(Middle age spread is hint to get fitter)
135 GABIONADE C.O. Butcher
I form bulges erected on a defence’s sides
(I bag (rev.) on a de & lit.)
139 PIEPOWDER D.C. Williamson
I might have benefited from Maundy Gregory perhaps, going after welcome honour
(pie powder, ref. ceremony of washing feet)
143 A jingle C. Allen Baker
With gifts weighed down, frost-flecked, adorned,/And star above, ye wise men three-O,/’Tis little wonder, sirs, that ye/Might well be termed a Christmas tree/O
(BALTHAZAR, MELCHIOR, CASPAR)
146 CHARADES Dr G.B. Greer
They may be made up by dear Azed each Xmas (deduction of first and second parts required)
(ar, ed, ch, as anag. & lit.)
148 BALLYHOO R.J. Palmer
Bouncer? Brute unleashing one produces a storm of publicity
(ball y(a)hoo)
152 ENAMORADO/ESCLANDRE R.J. Palmer
He’s flighty and a Romeo - this ill-repute getting read about could give a bird’s family great worry
(anag. & lit.; (re)e’s clan dre(ad))
156. OMBROPHOBOUS: J.R. Kirby
A wayfarer going into a desolate moor pub’s unlikely to want water!
(hobo in anag.).
161 ANCON C.G. Millin
I’ve got four short legs: one must get caught that side
(an c on (=leg side))
165 Anagram of eight fish Dr G.B. Greer
People can catch ‘em, hook ‘em, one and all, using a net, bob, barb, or harpoon
(LANCE POMPANO BONITO PORBEAGLE THORNBACK MENHADEN ALBACORE HUSO)
169 THUGGEE W.L. Miron
What the strangling mugger, recognising no limits, might demonstrate
((m)ugge(r) in the, & lit.)
174 EPEOLATRY M.Woolf
With parole yet to be arranged, could this mean serving whole sentences?
(anag., serve = worship)
178 A(U)G(U)ST (Letters Latent) A.J. Crow
‘In ——’ (Cuckoo sang it) ‘go I must’
(comp anag, & lit.)
183 PICKLE N.C. Goddard
Pinch and scrape
(2 meanings)
187 POWDERING-TUB D.V. Harry
‘God, I burn!’ wept rakes in this
(anag. & lit; rake4)
190 CASSANDRA C.O. Butcher
One having prior dope and held in little credit
(ass + and in cr. + a, & lit.)
195 SHILLY-SHALLY F.D. Gardiner
Scanty clothing producing evil gibe about every wobble!
(ill in shy + all in shy)
197 CAMERA (Printer’s Devilry) J.B. Sweeting
I translated: ‘The gall i/s bitter’
(I translated the Gallic ‘amer’ as ‘bitter’)
200 The Extra Guest (minus CC) R.M.S. Cork
He, the Sir at sea
(Chichester; anag. & lit.)
203 BOGY R.J. Hooper
Dogberry’s role: —— errors led astray?
(comp. anag. & lit.)
208 RALPH Dr. G.B. Greer
What makes ‘poetic river’ appear as ‘poetic rover’?
(R.Alph (Coleridge), Ralph the Rover (Southey))
212 SURCINGLES W.K.M. Slimmings
They may have Lester slipping, half off, cursing freely
(anag. & lit., ref. L. Piggott)
216 SCANTITY R.J. Hooper
You’re sure to get it in a second lean year
(it in s cant y & lit.)
221 PADDY-WHACK T.E. Sanders
Ire-lander?
(paddy whack & lit.; lander = heavy blow)
225 VALETA F.R. Palmer
Revolutionary steps, as in Boston, against a drink tax, with no vote
(v ale ta(x), ref Boston Tea-Party). This was a ‘Spot the Theme’ competition - 13 states signing Declaration of Independence
229 METRICATE C.O. Butcher
To me losing inches is far from simple: we must, if we must
(me (in)tricate)
234 HOROSCOPIST Dr.R.L. Wynne
I might read poor Scot his weird
(anag. & lit.)
238 CRAMBOJINGLE W.L. Miron
Demonstrated by lie, guy, fly
(cram bo jingle & lit.)
243 OLYMPIC C.G. Millin
We have such champions, nearly all on water and ice
(o(n) lymp(h) ic(e), & lit.)
247 FLIVVER J.R. Kirby
Is a battered rifle loaded with caps of Victorian vintage an ‘old banger’?
(Vv in anag.)
249 RUDOLPH THE REINDEER J.B. Sweeting
I draw the red Noel rider - hup!
(anag. & lit; draw = pull away)
250 Anagram of ‘Stands the church clock at ten to three?’ R.V. Dearden, H.W. Massingham (joint winners)
To CCL then! - He’s the hardest nut to crack!
Ten to three = 2:50! A dinner was held at the Randolph Hotel, Oxford, in January 1977 to celebrate No. 250, with about 140 guests present
255 ROYAL SILVER JUBILEE R.J. Hooper
Year J. Bull loves E.R. II afresh
(anag. & lit.)
259 TRANSIRE R.H. Adey
It’s roughly concerned with confining what the smuggler did
(ran in anag. + re & lit.)
263 ERIACH (Printer’s Devilry) B.A. Pike
For fans of opera S/acha lacks appeal
(For fans of opera seria cha-cha lacks appeal)
267 MORRIS-DANCE C.J. & R.S. Morse
This month’s exercise might produce ‘1: C. and R. Morse ...’
(anag.)
272 MALAGUETTA B. Franco
Some sprinkling with this could give a tame meal gusto
(comp. anag. & lit.)
276 AMTRACK C.O. Butcher
Two items of transport in one with waterproof protection
(tr in a + mack & lit.)
281 DINOCERAS C.O. Butcher
A monster long ago dead I once stuck out on the head
(d. + anag. + ras)
285 BOYFRIEND (Misprints) C. Loving
Guy to be moved - funny bonfire day without one!
(loved; anag. less a)
289 AMNESIAC Mrs. K. Bissett
Names I must jot endlessly
(anag. + ac(e) & lit. must adj.)
294 HUMECT P. Machin
Help to make air rheumatic?
(comp. anag. & lit.)
298 NOSER L. May
Elevated debate precludes one
(re(a)son, rev. & lit.) Paper not available everywhere; comp. not included in annual list.
300 SLINK-BUTCHER B. Greer
He offers terrible chunks without hesitation in a shambles
(anag. less er)