CROSSWORDS

Cryptic Crossword January 2025

Compiled by Peter Chamberlain

Across

1 Ahead with Phillip coming from one of the seven churches in Revelation (12)

9 One of five in east took medicine (7)

10 He with Norma repaired candelabrum (7)

11 Phrase from old journalists I took on (10)

12 Imagined including sagacious threesome (4)

14 Wonder Con reproduced part of speech that is only used on one occasion (5,4)

16 Attack during filming (5)

17 Plump person so rich to begin with (5)

19 Plant Cain on it, a disaster (9)

21 Cad is hard slippery customer (4)

22 One or two forms of transport (10)

25 Steer by Lake Erie (7)

26 Fell, I am stumbling in disrepute (3,4) 

27 King, he took measure to one taking firm hold, we hear (5,7)

Down

1 2 U-shaped fastener found along the way (7) 

3 Spotted delay, one is struggling (4,4,2) 

4 Reprimand when clothes have been reduced (5,4) 

5 Ring placed under arm during dance (5) 

6 Blow about inclusion of new clue (4) 

7 A bishop features overdue debts (7) 

8 It immediately precedes the present day (9,3) 

9 Quash foe, been upsetting unnamed monarch (5,2,5) 

13 Belt, coil it round painter (10) 

15 Falsifying treatment (9) 

18 Glorious night (7) 

20 Light not completely circular (3-4) 

23 Nothing repeatedly almost round (5) 

24 Bertha arrived partly in mist (4)

Prize Draw

A £15 book token will be awarded to the first correct cryptic crossword solution randomly selected from all correct entries received by the submission deadline. Entries should be addressed to: Life and Work (Crossword) 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN and should be received by January 10. The solution will be published in the February issue and the prize winner in the March issue.

Winner of November 2024 Cryptic Crossword Ruth Davies, Edinburgh

Solution to December 2024 Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Drum-major, 6 Radar, 9 Elastic, 10 Lexical, 11 Mothering Sunday, 12 Debt, 14 Stronghold, 16 Monotheism, 17 Tsar, 20 Departure lounge, 22 Earflap, 23 Distant, 24 Tweed, 25 Territory.

DOWN: 1 Dreamed, 2 Unapt, 3 Mitten, 4 Jack-in-the-pulpit, 5 Religious leader, 6 Roxburgh, 7 Deciduous, 8 Relayed, 13 Bonaparte, 15 Startled, 16 Mid-Lent, 18 Re-entry, 19 Bonsai, 21 Ngaio.

Quick Crossword January 2025

Compiled by Jeannie Hollands

Across

1 Place where Jesus was crucified (7) 

5 Repeals (anag.) (7) 

9 Exalt (5) 

10 Predominant (9) 

11 Cattle pen (6) 

12 Sunday (5,3) 

14 Stocking material (5) 

15 Ape (5-4) 

18 Curtsy (9) 

20 Follower of Zeno (5) 

22 Levite of Cyprus (Acts 4:36) (8) 

24 ‘Allon the ground’, (carol) (6) 

26 Military unit (9) 

27 Deputy clergyman (5) 

28 Reading-desk (7) 

29 Amount left over (7)

Down

1 Gradually becoming louder (9) 

2 Word for word (7) 

3 Day that’s November 1st (3,6) 

4 ‘Lord for the --s’, (hymn) (4) 

5 ‘--, cleft for me’, (hymn) (4,2,4) 

6 Ruled (5) 

7 Applause (7) 

8 Means of access (5) 

13 ‘The church’s one --’, (hymn) (10) 

16 Preacher (9) 

17 He visited Jesus by night (9) 

19 Unpredictable (7) 

21 Visual (7) 

22 Biblical tower (5) 

23 ’--, my soul, and with the sun’, (hymn) (5) 

25 Burden (4)

Solution to December 2024 Quick Crossword

ACROSS: 1 Eyrie, 4 Chapati, 9 Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Roughly, 11 Ignoble, 12 Ere, 13 Officer, 15 Re-elect, 16 Surveys, 19 Timbrel, 21 Toe, 22 Hapence, 23 Moisten, 25 Near-sightedness, 26 Solomon, 27 Reset.

DOWN: 1 Earmuff, 2 Rajah, 3 Essayer, 4 Cashier, 5 Athenaeum, 6 Amiable, 7 In the stillness, 8 Glorious things, 14 Cheongsam, 17 Raphael, 18 Sten gun, 19 Tempter, 20 Retreat, 24 Indus.