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Crossword bliss

LIKE many of your readers, I found Mr Woodward’s letter about the Adver crossword and the ensuing correspondence fascinating.

Who’d have thought something so simple as a crossword in a newspaper could stimulate such lively debate? It almost makes Brexit pale into insignificance.

I also enjoy tackling the Adver crossword. Unfortunately, so does my wife. There is occasionally a bit of a rush to grab a copy of the paper just so we can be first to do the crossword.

It’s something we like to be competitive over, but more often than not we end up helping each other when there’s the odd clue we cannot solve.

That’s what a good marriage is all about really – love, friendship, and helping each other with the crossword.

Now, does anyone know 17 across, “Unprincipled”, 12 letters?

G FORBES

Stratton St Margaret

Swindon

....

Here’s the answers

LIKE your reader Veronica Garside, I thought Graham Woodward’s letter praising the Adver daily crossword puzzle quite special, if not splendid.

However, I disagree with her in one very particular respect.

She criticised him for revealing the puzzle’s answers in his letter, but I feel I must remind her that, in England, universal free speech is every man’s (and woman’s) right – however lowly their station, be it Swindon, Didcot or Reading.

In an endeavour to uphold this fundamental principle, I hereby present a selection of answers for next Wednesday’s Cryptic Crossword:

Across: 1) Woodward 2) Eastward 3) Westward 9) Southward 22) Upward 23) Wayward

Down: 4) Garside 6) Gartop 8) Garbottom 9) Gargle 11) Garter 17) Bill Williams

I would reveal more, but I haven’t had my tablet...

BAS JONES

Grosvenor Road

Old Town

Swindon

....

Wonderful hospital

I’VE JUST returned from a five-day break, absolutely free with bed, breakfast and evening meal. Breakfast in bed, cocoa last thing and lots to drink (water).

Beds made, clean laundry daily and lots of visitors with smiling faces any time of the day or night even after a long day’s work.

The views were quite good, trees, car park and even the laundry looked good.

Where was this place? The Great Western Hospital. It should be called the Great Wonderful Hospital.

What did it cost me? Nothing, although I did leave a few bits my wonderful surgeon said I didn’t need.

I can’t thank everyone enough, particularly my wonderful friends on Beech Ward.

I thought that when you reached 60 that was it but, at the age of 86, I am still going strong and ready to write a few more letters to the Adver now the ladies have started writing – sorry Bill.

LILIAN SPENCER

Thames Avenue, Swindon