John Dawson’s first FT crossword from November 2 1995…
It’s been my pleasure to have blogged a number of ARMONIE’s crosswords over the past few years. Always enjoyable, and this, his first, was no exception. I thought the parsing of 18a to be a little odd, though perhaps I’ve missed something, and 5d was a new one for me.
Thank you, ARMONIE, for all the crosswords!
From the FT:
JOHN DAWSON, crossword compiler Armonie in the FT, died on September 24 after a long illness. Born in 1946, a Novocastrian, he worked as a design engineer in the chemical industry. His laboratory colleagues gathered round the crossword in the morning tea break and this led to a lifelong passion, first as solver and 20 years later as compiler. His pseudonyms, Chifonie in the Guardian and Armonie in the FT, early names for the hurdy-gurdy, reflected his love of early music.
Early retirement and a move to Kendal enabled him to indulge his passion for walking and his love of the Lake District, which resulted in the website lakedistrictwalks.com. With retirement supported by setting crosswords and work as a warehouse truck operator, he took up again a teenage enthusiasm for ballroom dancing and with his partner started competing in the National League.
As a compiler at the easier end of the FT cryptic scale, his puzzles were often seen as a template to guide aspirant setters. He filled the Monday prize puzzle slot for many years and only retired a few months ago because of health problems.
BILLS (the boy’s) got TICKER (heart)
Cryptic definition
“Cob” and “pen” being male and female swans
[m]EMBER (finger, cut top off)
IT comes to E (a point, of the compass – East) + RATION (dole)
(ICI TESTED)* (*rigorously)
YARN (to tell tales) about E (east)
Double definition
A (one), NET (to catch) out(side)
[cul]L[ing] (middle of) in CUB (young animal)
(A RECTOR)* (*inspired)
UNI[s]ON (public sector workers, give up S (sunday))
SPEAR (weapon) takes MINT (a lot of money)
((DART)< (shoot, <back) + ION (charged particle)), IT within
P (quietly) + RUDE (vulgar)
Double definition
Referring to Rye, a port in Sussex
GUTTER (ditch) + PRESS (campaign)
Double definition
(BORE + TITL[e] (endless))* (*oddly enough)
SEE (discover), CR (chromium) in
Double definition
KEEL (overturn) + SON (issue)
(REMEDY ADA)* (*quack)
C (caught) + LIM[b] (leg, short) with A + X (kiss)
BA (graduate) + NANA (forebear) + FRITTERS (squanders)
(IN GENTLER)* (*fashion)
A[p][+T]TITUDE (inherent ability, to get T (a model) for P (a penny))
BASS (fish) + IS + T[ip] (top)
LEANS (prefers) to be in CE (church)
PRATE (talk incessantly) about I (one)
RI (theology lessons, Religious Instruction) + PUP (conceited young man)
Another great loss to crosswordland. Very sad.
I tentatively pencilled in PAL for 7a but eventually saw the correct (and way superior) answer. Possibly my favourite.
For quite a while, I could only see “bullshitter” for 1a, which kind of fit the definition, but saw sense and got the answer. Then needed a word fit to get the unknown KEELSON and finished off with NEAT.
The musical terms needed for 13a I only know from previous crosswords.
Thanks Armonie and Teacow
Very sad news and may he (first part of 25d, appropriately).
Thought that this was one of the most enjoyable puzzles from this setter that I have done. Am pretty sure that would have done it back in 1995 as that was about the time that I started doing the FT cryptic by pinching a photocopy of the hardcopy paper from the bank that I was working for at the time where they used to get a copy flown over about 2-3 days after publishing. Loved reading many of the articles from the paper as well.
Took a little while before I saw DIETETICS to get a start with this one. Was able to steadily fill the rest of the grid in a very satisfying 3/4 of an hour this morning. Didn’t end up getting the parsing of UNION correct but all the rest came out OK. Loved the two tricky little 3-letter ones.
Finished with CREATOR (that took longer than it should have), KEELSON (a new term, or at least forgotten from nearly 30 years ago) and the tricky NEAT as the last one in.
Firstly, I echo the sentiments above at the sad news this morning. I think this is only the second Armonie grid I’ve seen, being fairly new to this game, and so probably the first I’ve completed. As the tribute mentions, this grid was of the gentler persuasion.
I was interested to see how, if at all, the setting style may have changed in 25 years but I found it reassuringly FT-ish after all. Just winced at that 18a.
Favourites included GUTTER PRESS, SPEARMINT and the two long down clues which remind me it’s time for supper. It was a pleasure to solve this Armonie puzzle. May he rest in peace.
Thanks to Teacow.
A nice piece from Alan Connor here: https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2020/oct/12/remembering-the-crossword-setter-john-dawson-aka-chifonie
Thanks all for posting John’s first puzzle. Sad to lose one of our clan.
RIP
Always said to lose a crossword setter – RIP and thank you for all the crosswords John
My particular favourite in this debut crossword is 7a
Thanks to Teacow too
Sounded a lovely man from the obituary. A great loss to all. Most enjoyable first and last puzzle. Highlights for me were the 1 and 8 down.
Sad news but a pleasure to solve this first-and-last crossword. A first Armonie for me, as I’m a Guardian reader, though I’ve solved many Chifonies, of course. As brucew@aus says, the three-letter clues were delightful, COB for the witty clue and RYE for the alarming number of possibles for drink (rum? red?) and port (Rio? red?) before the crossing E gave me the right answer. The parsing of CLUB, as Teacow points out, is dubious, although the answer is obvious. I liked ATTITUDE and ITERATION, and although I knew KEELSON, I was unsure about overturn for KEEL, having only come across keel over, but Chambers says it is correct. Sorry for doubting you, Armonie, and thanks for the entertainment through the years.
Thanks Teacow. Another fan mourning the demise of Armonie.
A fitting tribute to Armonie. Although the FT obituary says he ws a compiler at the easier end of the FT cryptic scale, this was no doddle and had us scratching our heads several times, but the balance was just right. A sad loss and we shall miss his contributions to the FT.
RIP Armonie – and thanks, Teacow.
Yes, sad news. I haven’t been doing the FT puzzles for that long, but Chifonie has been one of my favorite setters in the Guardian for a long time. This puzzle was no exception.
I expect, like me, solvers have their favorites. The anticipation before the setter’s reveal each day still excites me. Back in the day, my father and I would rejoice to discover a fresh Cinephile. More recently, Mudd and Redshank have provided solid amusement. But always a mainstay for a reliably enjoyable session was the consistent Armonie. I shall miss being met by his handle at the unfolded page. Godspeed, sir…