Toughie 569

Toughie No 569 by Warbler

Hints and tips by Bufo

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

A pleasant puzzle which I didn’t find very difficult. 14 across, the key to several other clues, was readily solved and after this the puzzle was fairly straightforward.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.

Across

7a    Father John heads for ecumenical religious conference (7)
{PALAVER} Father + John (toilet) + the first letters (heads) of ecumenical religious gives a conference

8a    Processed last of garlic oils in this Californian valley (7)
{SILICON} An anagram (processed) of C (last letter of garlic) OILS IN gives a word that describes a Californian valley noted for its information technology companies

10a    I get a frame constructed in memory of sight (5-5)
{AFTER-IMAGE} An anagram (constructed) of I GET A FRAME gives something that persists after you’ve looked at an object

11a    Dip for Marie? (4)
{DUNK} A cryptic definition where Marie is a type of plain biscuit that you might dip in your tea

12a    Young 14 storming angrily about end of race (8)
{YEARLING} A 14 that has not yet reached the age of 2 is obtained from an anagram (storming) of ANGRILY round E (last letter of race)

14a    Animal’s one of five discovered in Eastern Spain (6)
{EQUINE} An animal is made up of one of five children born at the same time to the same mother inside E (Eastern) E (Spain)

15a    A mastermind contrived to produce reduction in weapons (11)
{DISARMAMENT} An anagram (contrived) of A MASTERMIND gives a reduction in weapons

19a    Foreign 14 from Birmingham in reserve (6)
{BRUMBY} An Australian wild 14 is got from an informal name for Birmingham + “in reserve”

20a    Removal of smeared stain from novel installations leaves a 14 (8)
{STALLION} An anagram (novel) of INSTALLATIONS after removal of INSTA (smeared stain) gives a male 14

22a    British aircraftsman’s a fool (4)
{BERK} B (British) + RAF slang for an aircraftsman gives a fool

23a    Moneymen, surprisingly, resurrect American society without a hint of corruption (10)
{TREASURERS} People who handle organisations’ funds are an anagram (surprisingly) of RESURRECT A (American) S (society) without the C (first letter of corruption)

25a    Contributing to drinking in Nelson’s back alleys up North (7)
{GINNELS} A Northern England word for alleys is hidden in “drinkinG IN NELSon’s”

26a    Wave runs into vessel (7)
{BREAKER} A wave hitting rocks or the sure is formed from R (runs) inside a drinking vessel

Down

1d    Panic rises involving unknown old 14 (7)
{PALFREY} This one needed some thought because I am not familiar with the answer. A reversal (rises) of “panic” + “involving” + Y (unknown) gives a 14, especially for a lady’s use (in Spenser’s Faerie Queen applied to Una’s ass). WARNING – do not google “Una’s ass” to try and find a picture of it

2d    Injure European 14 (4)
{MARE} Injure + E (European) gives a female 14

3d    Erecting say small sign (6)
{GEMINI} A reversal (erecting) of “say” + “small” gives a sign of the zodiac

4d    Period set — as seen on TV (4,4)
{TIME TEAM} “Period” + “set” gives the name of a Channel 4 archaeological programme

5d    Aerodynamic apparatus with independent chimney (4,6)
{WIND TUNNEL} Apparatus used in aerodynamic investigations is formed from W (with) + an abbreviation for “independent” + a chimney

6d    To drink spiked gin is depressing (7)
{DOWNING} “To drink” + an anagram (spiked) of GIN gives “depressing”

9d    Brag about refurbished steamer? Being in charge he might (11)
{BARGEMASTER} An anagram (about) of BRAG + an anagram (refurbished) of STEAMER gives the proprietor of a freight vessel

13d    Leader pursues distraught airman trying to break drought (10)
{RAINMAKING} A leader follows an anagram (distraught) of AIRMAN to give “trying to break drought”

16d    When at first you became a thief? It’s a medical condition (8)
{ASYSTOLE} “When” + Y (first letter of you” + “became a thief” gives the inability of the heart to pump out blood

17d    Cerasin treated as poison (7)
{ARSENIC} An anagram (treated) of CERASIN gives a poisonous element

18d    Fast 14. He swears about nothing (7)
{COURSER} A swift 14 is given by someone who swears around O (nothing)

21d    Del Boy’s bird’s under 17 — class! (6)
{ASSORT} A slang term for an attractive woman follows the atomic symbol for 17 to give “to class”. I’m not sure of the significance of Del Boy in this clue {He used the word a lot in “Only Fools and Horses” ! BD]

24d    It’s a short way to the bottom of Wincanton for a dark 14 (4)
{ROAN} A word for a way with the last letter removed + N (last letter of Wincanton) gives a 14 with a bay or dark coat sprinkled with white hairs

There were too many anagrams for my liking but overall it was a nice puzzle