What do you make of cryptic crosswords?

What do you make of cryptic crosswords?

Amundsen’s forwarding address* or a big heart?**

I love cryptic crosswords. In my early teens, my mum often used to encourage me to help her tackle the Observer Everyman crossword on a Sunday. Initially I was baffled and defeated – gradually I became hooked!

I still have the first Everyman grid that I ever completed by myself – I sat up into the small hours laboriously deciphering the last few clues, aided by my student Oxford dictionary, a pack of Marlboro lights and several mugs of strong coffee. The sense of achievement far exceeded anything I’d ever felt at the end of an essay overnighter!

As a wordsmith, it’s probably not surprising that I’m fascinated by hidden meanings and wordplay. But cryptic crosswords appeal to others for lots of reasons. It’s an exercise in code-cracking – MI6 famously recruited cryptic crossword solvers to work at Bletchley Park. A University of Buckingham study found that people with an affinity for maths, IT and science tend to be attracted to cryptic crosswords.

Super-solvers can complete a really hard cryptic in less than 15 minutes. Mark Goodliffe, a Times Crossword champion, takes on average six minutes and ten seconds to solve a daily puzzle.

My experience as a cryptic crossword solver is far removed from theirs. My favourite is the Saturday Times Jumbo Cryptic – I make a start on it at the weekend but it frequently takes me all week to complete it! Some clues are beyond me and I need to refer to superior experts such as the indispensable Lucian Poll, who publishes a full explanation of every answer each week, deftly enlightening the frustrated!

My partner is a convert to the cause – opening up the new crossword is a cherished Saturday morning ritual for us. I also enjoy solving sessions with other like-minded friends: the hive mind means we can sometimes complete it in one sitting! My mum and I still pool our wits to help each. Her dad passed on basic solving skills to her and I love that she has handed them to me. Neither of my teenagers has so far shown any interest in picking up the baton for the next generation… yet!

I have huge admiration for the skill, vocabulary, knowledge and deviousness of cryptic compilers. I recently had a go at designing my own 25×25 cryptic crossword. It was a very time-consuming challenge but incredibly satisfying. I’d love to spend more time developing my skills.

*Amundsen’s forwarding address = MUSH

**A big heart = ACE