A very similar puzzle to last week, being of medium strength and offering decent progression, but also being let down by some untidy clueing. Looks like we’ve hit one of those patches.
You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has done for you, then you might find my Just For Fun page useful, where you’ll find links to the last 100+ of these things. Meanwhile there’s the usual old book reviews and a story of mine.
Thanks again for the kind comments and messages. They are much appreciated. Till next time, stay safe, mask up – in fact, wrap up well in general, it’s bitter out there – and keep flying the flag for the NHS and key workers everywhere.
LP
Across clues
- Dancing legend in bank that was for well-to-do people (6,7)
Answer: MIDDLE ENGLAND (i.e. “well-to-do people”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of LEGEND placed “in” MIDLAND (i.e. “bank that was”, referring to the Midland Bank, which was taken over by HSBC in the 1990s), like so: MID(DLEENG)LAND.
- Asian to show fear endlessly outside a burial chamber (9)
Answer: PAKISTANI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is PANIC (i.e. “to show fear”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder wrapped around or placed “outside” of A and KIST (i.e. a word for chest or coffin or “burial chamber” used up in Scotland or Northern England, though not one I can ever attest to hearing), like so: P(A-KIST)ANI.
- Two-wheeler parked in Clifton Gardens (5)
Answer: TONGA (i.e. a “two-wheeler” in India). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CLIF(TON GA)RDENS.
- When reversing around headland, move steadily, arriving at anchorage (5,4)
Answer: SCAPA FLOW (i.e. “anchorage” in the Orkney Islands). Hmm. Another week, another untidy clue. I guess the solution was supposed to be AS (i.e. “when”) “reversed” and wrapped “around” CAP, then followed by FLOW (i.e. “move steadily”), like so: S(CAP)A-FLOW. Trouble is CAP is not a headland. CAPE, yes; CAP, no. None of my go-to reference books support this one (Chambers; Oxford; Collins Concise; Bradford’s). Looks like an “endlessly” indicator has been missed, but I’m happy to be corrected. On a different tack, I learned something new from this one: that the word “scarper” was in part derived from the solution, being the Cockney rhyming slang for “go”.
- Nick sees parrot initially quiet in cage (3,4)
Answer: COP SHOP (i.e. “nick”, both slang for police stations). Solution is P (i.e. “parrot initially”, i.e. the first letter of “parrot”) and SH (i.e. “quiet”) all placed “in” COOP (i.e. “cage”), like so: CO(P-SH)OP.
- Erica, keeping well, finally to rearrange spa (6,6)
Answer: HEALTH RESORT (i.e. “spa”). Solution is HEATH (i.e. “erica”) wrapped around or “keeping” L (i.e. “well, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “well”) and then followed by RESORT (i.e. “rearrange”), like so: HEA(L)TH-RESORT.
- Note refusal to talk about current ability to recover (10)
Answer: RESILIENCE (i.e. “ability to recover”). Solution is RE (i.e. “note” in the doh-ray-me style; can be spelled re or ray) followed by SILENCE (i.e. “refusal to talk”) once wrapped “about” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics), like so: RE-SIL(I)ENCE.
- Hunter to be storing silver in box for return (6)
Answer: EAGLET (i.e. a young eagle or “hunter”). Solution is AG (chemical symbol for “silver”) placed or “stored” in TELE (i.e. “box”, i.e. a shortened form of the word “television”) once reversed (indicated by “for return”), like so: E(AG)LET.
[EDIT: Chris makes a good point in the comments, that EAGLET is a “hunter to be”, i.e. a young eagle, rather than just a “hunter”. Cheers, Chris! – LP]
- Lug instrument and books round room (8)
Answer: OTOSCOPE (i.e. “lug instrument” – lug being a slang word for an ear). Solution is OT (i.e. “books”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible) followed by O (i.e. “round”) and SCOPE (i.e. “room”).
- Small arachnids in the country (6)
Answer: STICKS (i.e. “the country”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by TICKS (i.e. “arachnids”).
- Sailor man brawling with bruiser (10)
Answer: SUBMARINER (i.e. “sailor”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “brawling”) of MAN and BRUISER.
- Gated community in California? (3,9)
Answer: SAN FRANCISCO, a city in “California”. “Gated” plays on the Golden Gate Bridge, arguably the city’s most famous landmark.
- East onto A40 for one taking wheel (4)
Answer: AXLE (i.e. “one taking wheel”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) placed “onto” the end of A and XL (i.e. “40” in Roman numerals), like so: (A-XL)-E.
- Partner previously generous succeeded in cases (8)
Answer: EXAMPLES (i.e. “cases”). Solution is EX (i.e. “partner previously”) followed by AMPLE (i.e. “generous”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”).
- Old singers and actors abandon one (8)
Answer: CASTRATI (i.e. “old singers”). Solution is CAST (i.e. “actors”) followed by RAT (i.e. to desert or “abandon”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). A recent repeat, appearing also in 1477. Repeats often make my teeth itch, especially when they happen in close succession, and oh boy do they happen a lot. Solvers may recall a time when the artist Max Ernst appeared so often in these things he practically had a residency. They do little to dispel a nagging suspicion I have that some setters are merely seeding grids with a few solutions and clicking a button somewhere to autocomplete the rest. (I know The Times exclusively use(d?) software to produce the Codeword puzzles, for example. They fessed up to it when solvers noted how often MOIST was appearing in the top left of the grid.) I really hope I’m wrong, but, if not, let’s shake up the word pool a little, eh, setters? Or at least use a different app once in a while.
- See it in Country Life (8)
Answer: VITALITY (i.e. “life”). Solution is V (i.e. “see”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of vide, Latin for “see”) followed by IT once placed “in” ITALY (i.e. “country”), like so: V-ITAL(IT)Y.
- Check when boarding earlier vessel (8)
Answer: SCHOONER (i.e. “vessel”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “check” used in chess) placed in or “boarding” SOONER (i.e. “earlier”), like so: S(CH)OONER.
- First man, first male to forsake brothel-keeper (4)
Answer: ADAM (i.e. “first man” in The Bible). Solution is MADAM (i.e. “brothel-keeper”) with the “first” M removed or “forsaken” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “male”.
- State London borough has empty properties to rent (3,9)
Answer: NEW HAMPSHIRE (i.e. US “state”). Solution is NEWHAM (i.e. “London borough”) followed by PS (i.e. “empty properties”, i.e. the word “properties” with all its middle letters removed) and HIRE (i.e. “to rent”).
- Chemist needing a drug – he runs out of stock (10)
Answer: APOTHECARY (i.e. “chemist”). Solution is A followed by POT (i.e. “drug”, i.e. marijuana), then HE, then CARRY (i.e. “stock”) once one of the Rs has been removed (indicated by “runs out of…” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in several ball games), like so: A-POT-HE-CARY.
- Rebellion when peacekeepers take break? (6)
Answer: UNREST (i.e. “rebellion”). Solution is UN (i.e. “peacekeepers”, specifically the United Nations) followed by REST (i.e. “take break”).
- Firms paid in charge for appearances only (8)
Answer: COSMETIC (i.e. “for appearances only”). Solution is COS (i.e. “firms”, being a recognised abbreviation of “company” made plural) followed by MET (i.e. “paid”) and IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).
- Meat for each basket holding food (6)
Answer: HAMPER (i.e. “basket holding food”). Solution is HAM (i.e. “meat”) followed by PER (i.e. “for each”).
- Spinning line, TV sage is one preaching (10)
Answer: EVANGELIST (i.e. “one preaching”). “Spinning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LINE TV SAGE.
- Plymouth has a busted temperature controller (12)
Answer: HYPOTHALAMUS (i.e. “temperature controller” in the brain). “Busted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PLYMOUTH HAS A. Very nicely done.
- Midshipman, after discarding two hearts, holds the king (7)
Answer: OLDSTER (i.e. “midshipman” – chalk one to my Bradford’s here). Solution is HOLDS THE once the two Hs have been removed (indicated by “discarding two hearts” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in card games) and the remainder followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of Rex, Latin for “king”), like so: (H)OLDS-T(H)E-R => OLDS-TE-R.
- Range shown by decidedly English singer (9)
Answer: FIELDFARE (i.e. “singer” – a bird, specifically a member of the thrush family. Fun fact: the Latin for “thrush” is Turdus, in case you were wondering which family of birds was responsible for redecorating your car). Solution is FIELD (i.e. “range”) followed by FAR (i.e. “decidedly”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”). Chalk another to my Bradford’s.
- Sweetheart in wood one obtaining tree resin (5)
Answer: ELEMI (i.e. “tree resin”). Solution is E (i.e. “sweetheart”, i.e. the middle letter of “sweet”) placed “in” ELM (i.e. “wood”) and followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: EL(E)M-I. Weirdly, one I knew.
- Practical once confined to breathe one’s last inside (9)
Answer: EXPEDIENT (i.e. “practical”). Solution is EX (i.e. former or “once”) and PENT (i.e. “confined”) wrapped around or having “inside” DIE (i.e. “to breathe one’s last”), like so: EX-PE(DIE)NT.
- Set gathered together for an evening meal? (6,7)
Answer: DINNER SERVICE (i.e. “set”). Clue plays on DINNER being “an evening meal” and how people can “gather together” for a church SERVICE. You get the idea.
Down clues
- Beyond compare in Lima, introduced to dull game (9)
Answer: MATCHLESS (i.e. “beyond compare”). Solution is L (“Lima” in the phonetic alphabet) placed in or “introduced to” MAT (i.e. “dull”) and CHESS (i.e. “game”), like so: MAT-CH(L)ESS.
- Half-hidden area witch guards in old city for locals (3,4)
Answer: DEN HAAG (i.e. “city” in the Netherlands, better known here as The Hague. Quite what makes it the “old city for locals” is beyond the rudimentary search I’m prepared to give it. Probably something to do with its history. Whatever. If a kind soul swings by with the info, then I’ll update the post). Solution is DEN (i.e. “half-hidden”, specifically the latter half) followed by HAG (i.e. “witch”) once wrapped around or “guarding” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: DEN-H(A)AG.
[EDIT: Thanks to Graham in the comments for a speedy resolution to this one. Looks like I was overthinking it. “For locals” merely suggests DEN HAAG is the Dutch or local name of the city. Cheers, Graham! – LP]
- Dishevelled lady we hate to precede (4,3,3)
Answer: LEAD THE WAY (i.e. “to precede”). “Dishevelled” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LADY WE HATE.
- Guarantee rebuke when scratching head (6)
Answer: ENSURE (i.e. “guarantee”). Solution is CENSURE (i.e. “rebuke”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “scratching head”).
- Willing to talk over carrying weight in hand luggage (9,3)
Answer: GLADSTONE BAG (i.e. “hand luggage”). Solution is GLAD (i.e. “willing”) and GAB (i.e. “to talk”), the latter reversed (indicated by “over” – this being a down clue), both wrapped around or “carrying” STONE (i.e. “weight”), like so: GLAD-(STONE)-BAG.
- Work to support corruption in Africa deserved arrest (1,4,3)
Answer: A FAIR COP (i.e. “deserved arrest”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) placed under or “supporting” – this being a down clue – an anagram (indicated by “corruption in”) of AFRICA, like so: AFAIRC-OP.
- Valley at last supplied with beer (4)
Answer: DALE (i.e. “valley”). Solution is D (i.e. “at last supplied”) followed by ALE (i.e. “beer”).
- What’s ultimately convoluted in government publicity? Patter has it? (6-4)
Answer: POWDER-PUFF (i.e. “patter has it” – referring to the action of applying makeup). Solution is D (i.e. “what’s ultimately convoluted”, i.e. the last letter of “convoluted”) placed “in” POWER (i.e. “government”) and followed by PUFF (i.e. “publicity”), like so: POW(D)ER-PUFF.
- Start to work, breaking habit of finishing early (4,2)
Answer: KICK IN (i.e. “start to work”). Solution is KICKING (i.e. “breaking habit”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “finishing early”).
- Devious pundit that is taking in guy – one in fashionable set (12)
Answer: SOPHISTICATE (i.e. “one in fashionable set”). Solution is SOPHIST, “a captious or intentionally fallacious reasoner” (Chambers), i.e. “devious pundit”, followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e… er… “i.e.”!) wrapped around CAT (i.e. “guy”, or hep cat for all you Jazz Club enthusiasts out there. Niiiiice…) like so: SOPHIST-I(CAT)E.
- Starters of aubergine served with chicken pasty (5)
Answer: ASHEN (i.e. “pasty”). Solution is A and S (i.e. “starters of aubergine served”, i.e. the first letters of “aubergine” and “served”) followed by HEN (i.e. “chicken”).
- Art school illusion is magical at first (13)
Answer: IMPRESSIONISM (i.e. “art school”). Solution is IMPRESSION (i.e. “illusion”) followed by IS and M (i.e. “magical at first”, i.e. the first letter of “magical”).
- Greek ferryman outside gym finds young female companion (8)
Answer: CHAPERON (i.e. “young female companion”, as in one accompanying the young female rather than the young female herself – can be spelled with or without an ‘e’ at the end). Solution is CHARON (i.e. “Greek ferryman”, i.e. the ferryman of Greek myth who carried the spirits of the dead across the river Styx) wrapped “outside” of PE (i.e. “gym”, specifically Physical Education), like so: CHA(PE)RON.
- Charlie, fool with artillery, one anticipating disaster (9)
Answer: CASSANDRA (i.e. “one anticipating disaster”, another from Greek myth, this time one who was doomed to prophesy terrible events and never be believed). Solution is C (i.e. “Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ASS (i.e. “fool”), then AND (i.e. “with”) and RA (i.e. “artillery”, specifically the Royal Artillery of the British Army).
- Team with pace to avoid tackles (8)
Answer: SIDESTEP (i.e. “avoid tackles”). Solution is SIDE (i.e. “team”) followed by STEP (i.e. “pace”).
- One shouting loudly when taking in Turin’s original campanile (4-5)
Answer: BELL-TOWER (i.e. “campanile”). Solution is BELLOWER (i.e. “one shouting loudly”) wrapped around or “taking” T (i.e. “Turin’s original”, i.e. the first letter of “Turin”), like so: BELL(T)OWER.
- Expedition to the French metropolis must cross river (8)
Answer: ALACRITY (i.e. “expedition”, taken to mean “with speed” rather than a trip out somewhere). Solution is A LA (i.e. “to the French”, i.e. the French for “to the”) followed by CITY (i.e. “metropolis”) once wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: A-LA-C(R)ITY.
- Mushrooms springing up with cap incomplete in colourful range (8)
Answer: SPECTRUM (i.e. “colourful range”). Solution is CEPS (i.e. “mushrooms”) reversed (indicated by “springing up” – this being a down clue) and followed by TRUMP (i.e. “cap”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “incomplete”), like so: SPEC-TRUM.
- Arrival with banker – certain people taking risks (13)
Answer: ADVENTURESOME (i.e. “taking risks”). Solution is ADVENT (i.e. “arrival”) followed by URE (i.e. “banker” – in this case referring to a river) and SOME (i.e. “certain people”).
- Perceptive about poet quoted on the radio (5-7)
Answer: CLEAR-SIGHTED (i.e. “perceptive”). Solution is C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by Edward LEAR (i.e. “poet”), then a homophone (indicated by “on the radio”) of CITED (i.e. “quoted”).
- Bug quietly installed, make speech for examiners (12)
Answer: INSPECTORATE (i.e. “examiners”). Solution is INSECT (i.e. “bug”) wrapped around or having “installed” P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or “quietly” in musical lingo), then followed by ORATE (i.e. “make speech”), like so: INS(P)ECT-ORATE.
- Who at first becomes unsettled loses plot (6,1,3)
Answer: THROWS A FIT (i.e. “loses plot” – both phrases expressing rage). “Becomes unsettled” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WHO AT FIRST.
- Leave track having broken rule that’s applied to bikes (10)
Answer: DERAILLEUR (i.e. “that’s applied to bikes”, specifically the little doodad that moves the chain up and down the gears). Solution is DERAIL (i.e. “leave track”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of RULE, like so: DERAIL-LEUR.
- Hosiery designed when king’s visiting county (9)
Answer: YORKSHIRE (i.e. “county”). Another untidy clue for me. The solution was probably supposed to be an anagram (indicated by “designed”) of HOSIERY wrapped around or having “visiting” R and K, both recognised abbreviations of “king”, the former being the Latin “Rex”, the latter an abbreviation used in chess or cards, like so: YO(R-K)SHIRE. Trouble is, “king’s” is singular, being a contraction of “king is”. Had the clue finished “…kings visit county” then all would be good. Either that or the setter forgot there are two Rs in YORKSHIRE. Again, I’m happy to be furnished with a better solution, but as it stands this feels like another balls-up.
- The old duke in disgrace remained at home (6,2)
Answer: STAYED IN (i.e. “remained at home”). Solution is YE (i.e. “the old”, i.e. ye olde “the”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) both placed “in” STAIN (i.e. “disgrace”), like so: STA(YE-D)IN.
- Pipe assembly round mass blocks, one in ancient city (7)
Answer: POMPEII (i.e. “ancient city”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “assembly”) of PIPE wrapped around or “blocked” by O (i.e. “round”) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “mass”) and followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: P(O-M)PEI-I.
- Sci-fi author having a bit of fun in church (6)
Answer: Arthur C CLARKE (i.e. “sci-fi author”). Solution is LARK (i.e. “a bit of fun”) placed “in” CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: C(LARK)E. This nerd approves.
- Motor turns (6)
Answer: WHEELS. Solution satisfies a slang word for “motor” car, and “turns”. If you heard a faint “gaahhh!” on the wind on Saturday afternoon and wondered where it came from, that was me finally nailing this one.
- Tot to sound reasonable (3,2)
Answer: ADD UP. Solution satisfies “tot” and “to sound reasonable”.
- Crook from north found in sack (4)
Answer: BEND (i.e. “crook”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “north”) placed “in” BED (i.e. “sack”, a slang word for bed), like so: BE(N)D.
More musical accompaniment was had this week, inspired largely by the earworm that is the Deep Stone Lullaby theme recently added to the videogame Destiny 2 (my current timesink). The theme appears in a rare moment of peace between frenetic firefights in the Deep Stone Crypt raid and is, to this ageing gamer’s ears, the best piece of original music to grace a videogame for a long, long time.
How long a time? Probably since 2011’s Skyrim, thoughts of which drew me to its sublime (and comprehensive) soundtrack on Spotify. If you’re after some background music to work to, or are looking for something to help fill that Game Of Thrones hole in your life, then you could do a lot worse than this. Standing Stones is a spine-tingling highlight. Enjoy! – LP
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
Thx as ever Lucian. I think 2 down is merely that a Brit would say The Hague, a local would say Den Haag. Cheers Graham
Excellent point, Graham, many thanks for that. I’ve updated the post. Cheers! – LP
Thank you for another enjoyable post. An extremely minor point; 18a Eaglet is a hunter TO BE which I think makes it a better clue. Cheers
Good point, Chris. I’ve updated the post. Thanks for your help and kind words! – LP
Cap is French for cape as in Cap Gris Nez and Cap blanc nez
I quite enjoyed this one, Lucian, but as you say, there were a few howlers. Can I be pedantic and point out that for 42d YE is not an old version of THE. As any fule kno after watching QI, this is a Victorian invention after misinterpreting the old letter Thorn (ᚦ).
Also, on 16a, ERICA is a plant, heather. It doesn’t mean heath. Millions of erica becomes a heath, but not one.
Thanks v much for the parsing on 1d, I couldn’t see that at all! Wheels and Oldster were my last two entries after a lot of huffing and puffing😁
Thanks, Mick. I thought the same on 16a, but found that heather is a member of the heath family of shrubs, genus Erica. I’ve not seen QI for ages, which is weird as it was often one of the best things on telly. (Scours Dave‘s schedules.) Cheers! – LP
As always many thanks Lucian, you are so diligent and your research is exceptional. Very decent offering this week, I thought. There were again quite a few anagrams but often amusingly clued, so the words to be anagrammatised (sorry, not a word I’ve ever used before but it seems to exist…) were well integrated into the clue and created a coherent idea. I like it when setters take that trouble; if only last week’s setter had done the same. I was happy with the various items you had queried, except I agree with you about the redundant apostrophe in “king’s” (in the Yorkshire clue) – but nobody seems to observe the rules of apostrophes these days. Like Graham H I would accept “cap” for headland, even though a mainly French word, given that we invariably use the French name for key headlands close to us notably Finisterre and Gris Nez. I enjoyed “Lug instrument” as the deceptive definer for “otoscope” – there’s something about slang when combined with a switch from the expected part of speech (as here, verb for noun) that always makes me smile, when I finally twig.
Thanks for the kind words, Michael. Much appreciated. I am a sucker for a good anagram, and rather liked how the setter worked HYPOTHALAMUS. Made me think of Stephen King’s “Christine”. Thanks again! – LP
Well, somewhat easier than last week’s crossword (which took until the following Friday evening to solve). This week, I finished by Tuesday afternoon.
If you fellow solvers are reading this, please don’t snitch on me to Lucian because, when I buy The Times on a Saturday, the Jumbo Crossword comes only fourth in my priority list. Firstly one tackles the Killer Sudoku, then the amusing Train Tracks, after which comes the rather tedious KenKen.
I tend to give the Tredoku puzzle a miss as, even without my whisky and soda, it is rather queasy-looking to look at.
This week, none of the clues was difficult but, being a keen cyclist, I was surprised that I couldn’t remember the correct spelling of (38d) deralier (ahem!).
53a was pretty easy once the interlocking letters were in place, but the connection between oldster and midshipman was more than obscure.
I also didn’t like (54a) a “singer” being referred to as “fieldfare”.
Oldster / Midshipman (53a)? Well easy to decide the answer but it was a pretty obscure reference for the
Sorry – ignore the final partial sentence in my previous reply, which escaped my proof-reading before hitting the “Post Comment” button.
Hi Lucian. I arrived at 34ac differently with V for Vatican (ie Holy See) rather than Vide.
Sorry late to this, but Golden Cap is also a headland in Dorset
Thanks as ever for explaining the answers so well. Ive been doing Jumbo Crossword on and off for quite a few years although there can be long gaps between attempts. I’m getting better but sometimes I can’t for the life of me work out why the word I’ve got fits the clue. That’s where you explanations help, thanks again (and I agree Yorkshire was clumsy)