Long time solvers the Telegraph back page crossword will fondly remember the regular Monday setter, Roger Squires, who retired in 2017. He also set crosswords for the Guardian as Rufus and the Financial Times as Dante. Roger was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most prolific crossword compiler. He was also a sportsman, magician and actor.
We were saddened to learn that Roger died recently at the age of 91. There is a tribute crossword to him as today’s (10 June) Guardian prize crossword (here) that includes some of his memorable clues.
Some of us were privileged to meet Roger at his surprise 80th birthday party in 2012. You can see pictures from the day in the Gallery (here).
Rest in Peace, Roger.
Sad news Prolixic, but thank you
Respect to a legend, he was full of fun
RIP
If a relative newbie may be allowed to offer condolences, RIP Roger.
It seems that heaven has become a little more cryptic lately. 🌹
So sorry to hear. A super crossword setter.
Very sad news. RIP Roger.
Very sad news. RIP Rufus.
Super setter, my fave, what a champ. Godspeed Rufus, with a fair wind and a running sea.
So sorry to hear this. We were just doing today’s Guardian prize crossword and had worked out that it could only be about Rufus. His clues were my favourites and there’s a sample to entertain you there.
RIP Rufus. Sad news, an all time favourite.
What a terrible shame to lose yet another of the big names from crosswordland. I didn’t have the good fortune to meet Roger but, like so many others, felt as though I knew him through his regular Monday puzzles. I always picture him sitting ‘with a girl on each knee’!
My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
Extremely saddened to know. RIP Rufus.
Sad to hear of this. Roger was a much valued compiler for the FT over several decades. And a man who could pull a table tennis ball out of someone’s ear without pausing for breath,
A magician in many ways.
Like others I cut my crosswording teeth on Rufus’s puzzles, solving them alongside Mama Bee after Papa had done his best.
Another crosswording Giant gone too soon. Pat and Ella will be missing Uncle Rufus
Sad news
I fondly remember meeting Roger at a meeting to celebrate 100 years of cryptic crosswords and was amazed to find that he was even more excited to meet me than I was him!
RIP Roger
So sorry to hear this sad news. RIP Rufus
Sad news but what a wonderful life and career he had. Certainly worked his magic. I used to love his puzzles which he continued setting to a rip old age. He never lost the gift.
I cut my cryptic teeth on the Monday puzzles of Rufus, they were always my favourites back then as they inevitably made me smile. Sad that two of the people who nurtured my interest in the art have passed in quick succession. Maybe he’ll raise a glass with the big man on the other side. RIP Sir.
RIP Mr Squires. You singularly made Mondays my favourite day of the week! It didn’t matter how bad a week I was facing at work, I knew you would put a smile back on my face. It was a sad day when you retired, it is even more upsetting to learn that we have lost such a crossword colossus.
I dare say Rufus is the setter who’s responsible for getting more solvers across the bridge from concise puzzles to cryptics than any other. His Monday triumvirate in the DT, FT and Guardian were always witty and entertaining, a great way of catching the cryptic bug – or a more relaxing alternative to the tougher ones if you needed it.
Still the only setter to have clued Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch too? RIP
I met him at one of the crossword do’s and he was a very pleasant man to talk to. What a record of achievement in crosswordland! Condolences to his relatives and friends.
He was the Mozart of cryptic crosswords, wasn’t he? RIP Rufus, I am still on Paul’s in the Guardian about you.
Sad news indeed. Condolences to his nearest & dearest.
This is extremely sad news. The word “great” is much overused these days, but Roger/Rufus was truly worthy of the adjective. I’m sorry that I never met him but, as others have said, his style of clueing made one feel that he was a friend. It is a testament to him that his legendary clues will survive for as long as crosswords exist.
Araucaria composed the following for Roger’s 80th birthday, and it is a fine tribute that deserves repeating:
Master magician Roger Squires
For eighty years has graced this land
And still his mental sleight of hand
Perplexes, conjures and inspires.
Not his the strained linguistic mire
That only nerds can understand;
His clues, meticulously planned,
Delight us as they cross our wires!
So, as we toast our honoured guest,
Best wishes; thanks; and this behest –
Pray relish and don’t rue the fuss
We make of you, dear Rufus: plus
Remember this, young Master Squires:
No cruciverbalist retires!
RIP Rufus.
Sad news, but a life well-lived, one feels. I very much enjoyed this setter’s style, which is well exemplified in the chapter dedicated to Roger in the DT book ‘A Display of Lights (9)’. A nice clue from the book, that I particularly enjoyed when solving the puzzles, was from 21 July 2008, 12 across: ‘First mate, right as always (4)’, which for me typifies the pleasing elegance of his work. His legacy will 12a be with us.
Thank you, Roger Squires, RIP.
What an amazing life. Condolences to his friends and family.
What sad news. I fully endorse Silvanus’ comment that Roger Squires was totally deserving of the epithet “great”.
RIP Rufus. Thank you for being so instrumental in fostering my love of cryptic crosswords.
Sad to hear that Roger Squires has finally departed this world. I never met him but was a great admirer. I knew him as Rufus in the Guardian. When he retired, I contributed this puzzle to Rookie corner. I wish I had been a better setter and could have produced a better puzzle, but it is what it is.
RIP Rufus
I once did a crossword of Roger’s and noticed that there was a mistake in a clue. I wrote a little humorous note to the editor. I was so surprised when I received a hand written reply from Roger himself chiding himself and apologising in the most funny and
pleasant way. He was so good humoured and affable it left me with a lasting and affectionate memory.
I hope he is somewhere they appreciate him.
Rufus was the first setter I encountered when I attempted my initial cryptic. His puzzles were a delight to solve and, in fact, since the launch of the new puzzle site I have started to tackle all of the Monday puzzles beginning from January 2003.
RIP Rufus.
Sad news and very much missed since his retirement. I always loved his particular humour which shone through in his clues. May he rest in peace.
Sad news indeed. As several bloggers have said – one of the few who deserve the title of ‘great’. My condolences to his family and friends.
RIP Rufus
A privilege to have known Roger, and to have shared our similar background stories from Fleet Air Arm flying days at his 80th birthday celebration.
“Fair winds and following seas, good sir”
Hope it’s not inappropriate to share this link: https://roger-squires.muchloved.com/.
John
More very sad news. We have lost one of the true crosswording greats.
RIP Rufus.