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Clues by Pasquale and Grid by Bozzy
Theme: New Towns
The winner of the November puzzle is Emma Wisher of Colchester.
We are told that this puzzle marks a 75th anniversary. Eight asterisked clues lack a definition; one of their solutions is the pioneer being celebrated, whilst the other seven are some of its followers. An anagram of the highlighted cells gives the theme (3,5), which solvers should submit with their entry, along with the name of the original pioneer.
Not a lot to go on there. The background photograph features a bridge which may be significant but I don’t recognise it. The picture clue actually gives the theme. George W Bush is instantly recognisable but I’m not sure about the severe looking framing him, but I note that there are two of him and that may indicate a plural.
Excellent cluing, as always from Pasquale, with difficulty towards the more straightforward end of his spectrum. Of course, to winkle out the theme, we’re after the asterisked clues without definitions. The first one that I get is clue 14 with an anagram that after a tussle yields MILTON KEYNES. With all the letters in place I’ve been struggling with clue 8, having got MK, BRACKNELL becomes obvious. Now they’re all falling into place with nice clue 9 for CORBY.
New Towns and the severe looking cove is clearly Isaac Newton with George’s W inserted. Yes the yellow squares have all the right letters and the theme is formally confirmed. The pioneer of these new towns was STEVENAGE.
I smiled a little whilst reading your comments when HE identified the Newtons as Olivia Newton-John. I’m not sure that she would be flattered by the comparison. And the background picture showed, of course, the Menai Straits bridge designed by Thomas Telford.
A delightful crossword with an unusual theme created by BOZZY who, for those who do not know, is our own Nora Boswell. Thank you Nora and of course the Don.
Grid solution
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