It is with sadness that we have to let you know that Mike Holmans (Alchemi) died yesterday. One of Mike’s first published puzzles was in the NTSPP series in October 2011. Jetdoc recommended that he send one of his puzzles to Big Dave. His last NTSPP crossword was published only last Saturday.
Mike went on to have crosswords published in the Independent (as Alchemi) and the Financial Times (as Chalmie). He also produced crosswords for a cricketing site as Hemical.
Our condolences to Mike’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.
Mike was a good friend of the blog and produced many puzzles for the NTSPP series and the MPP/QPP series, all of them impeccably clued and very enjoyable.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Sad news indeed.
Mike was one of the early members of my creche and we had some ‘interesting’ email discussions as to whether particular clues worked or not
Condolences to his family and friends. RIP Mike
I knew Mike hadn’t enjoyed the best of health over recent times but this news still came as a great shock. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. His often quirky puzzles will be greatly missed by all who became familiar with them.
Very sad news indeed particularly coming so soon after his latest in a long line of excellent puzzles as Alchemi. My sincere condolences to his family.
Sad news indeed. I will miss his cranial workouts.
Condolences to his family.
RIP Mike.
My thoughts are with his family and friends RIP Mike
This news is very, very sad. I knew Alchemi hadn’t been well, but this certainly was unexpected. It is only a few days since I much enjoyed his most recent NTSPP. It cheered up a wet and miserable day.
My warmest condolences to his family and friends. I know Alchemi will be greatly missed by all.
Quite a nasty shock. I had no idea anything was wrong – he had last weekend’s NTSPP here as well as puzzles in the Indy and FT about a month ago.
As well as setting clever and amusing puzzles, I know he was helpful and popular in the crossword community. Condolences to his wife and family and to his friends here.
Such sad news and a real shock, having enjoyed his NTSPP so much on Saturday.
Sincere condolences to his family.
Very sad to hear that. We have always loved solving his puzzles and he will be sadly missed.
Condolences to his family.
It is a sad occasion for me once again. Alchemi also is no more. Although I have never seen him, nor have I known, until now, that his real name is Mike Holmans, I have somehow been connected to him for a very special reason. MPP-099 was my debut review of an Alchemi MPP. Since then, there has been no looking back for me. BD had permitted me to do, thenceforth, all the reviews of MPP by Alchemi which appeared every fourth month and which he himself used to do. Thus, today I consider myself fortunate at having done the reviews of all the remaining Monthly Prize Puzzles, viz. MPP-103, MPP-107, MPP-111, MPP-115 and MPP-119 that were compiled by him. The MPP later shifted to QPP and I was expecting a QPP from Alchemi last month, without knowing that he was not well, though an NTSPP compiled by him has, of late, been published. He personally brought happiness to me once. While solving MPP-111 in August 2021, I found myself in the seventh heaven when I read one of his clues QUOTE 21d Rahmat Ali omitting almost all complicated computer language (7) UNQUOTE. I mentioned in the comment box that I liked Alchemi’s 21d for a very special reason as it was having a mention of the name of a very ordinary person like me. To this, Alchemi replied in the comment box, “Since you have been reviewing my last few MPPs, I felt it necessary to somehow acknowledge the fact.” And my reply to him was, “Thank you once again, Alchemi, as this has come to me as a colossal encouragement.” Alchemi was such a down-to-earth person and a kind human being. His puzzles were of an extremely high standard and they gave me immense satisfaction and pleasure whenever I completed those. Today, while praying to the Almighty for BD and Mrs. BD some time back at the Isha prayers as usual for their eternal rest and peace, I also prayed for Mike Holmans alias Alchemi for his eternal rest and peace. My sincere condolences go out to all his family members, friends and all those who are somehow attached to him and in grief. I also pray to the Almighty to give strength and courage to his family, friends and others to overcome this tragic and huge loss.
Very sad to hear. Condolences to his family.
Far too many deaths recently with people associated to this site … be it a person or an animal/pet.
Condolences to his family friends … and I enjoyed last Saturday’s NTSPP …
This is very sad to hear. I’m new here but enjoyed Alchemi’s recent NTSPP so much I had printed out a number of his previous puzzles to have a crack at this week. RIP.
Talented compiler and the way he created gold (9)
I’ve been catching up on some puzzles this week and have just enjoyed solving Alchemi’s NTSPP 704, so it is with great sadness that I now read of his passing. I greeted each of his puzzles with great anticipation because I knew it would be beautifully crafted and great fun to solve. It was an Alchemi MPP (103) that first prompted me to ‘come out of hiding’ onto the blog when I was fortunate enough to have my name drawn out of the hat – indeed, it was the first MPP I had entered for! So, Alchemi will always hold happy memories for me and his legacy in the archive will bring delight to many in years to come.
Thank you, Alchemi, and my sincerest condolences to all family and friends.
Thanks for all your kind words. Michael was my brother. It is such a wonderful thing to know that he was respected and admired in such an illustrious community. I am sure that he will be looking down on you all in the future and relishing your efforts, laughing when you get it wrong and cheering when you get it right. My brother was a very private man and really preferred being behind an alias. However, you knew him as he was and he loved you for it. Good luck and keep solving.
Welcome to the blog, David.
Your brother is greatly missed by the community here.