Catz Crosswords

The following article was first published in this year's edition of The Wheel, the College's annual newsletter, in July 2024. 

Three members of the St Catharine’s community, spanning almost five decades, are keen crossword setters. We spoke with them to find out more…

	Dr Hamish Symington (1999, Natural Sciences) has set crosswords for the Guardian among other publications, under the setter name ‘Soup’. He is a Fellow of Queens’ College and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences specialising in pollination.
	Archie McCann (2020, Engineering), who sets as ‘Marble’, has just graduated, having focused his studies on geotechnical engineering. He sets crosswords for the Varsity newspaper in between his studies, is active in politics and elections, and has two cats named Monty and Tallulah.
	Alan Chamberlain (1975, Modern & Medieval Languages), or ‘Komorník’, is a retired teacher. He helps to run the annual 3D Crossword Calendar in aid of RNIB and Children in Need, and attributes his love of crossword setting to a passion for wordplay and his language studies.

How did you start crossword setting?

HS: I commissioned a puzzle for a friend’s wedding from ‘Araucaria’, the great Guardian setter, and then helped him set up a website for his custom puzzle business. One day I plucked up the courage to put together a puzzle and sent it to him. It wasn’t very good but he was encouraging so I persevered. Then it was just practice, practice, practice. 

AC: I always loved wordplay. I grew up helping my family with the daily newspaper cryptics from the late 60s, and we used to set each other bizarre treasure-hunts during the holidays. When I retired, I began to take setting puzzles more seriously; but I am resolutely amateur and set puzzles only to amuse people and for fundraising. 

AMc: Growing up, my dad loved crosswords and showed me how cryptic clues work: the clever twists and tricks within them. I started setting by making quick and cryptic crosswords for Varsity. It’s good fun getting to think about the clues, working out different ways of getting to the same answer, and making small adjustments until they feel right. 

What makes a good crossword?

HS: A really good crossword clue is like a joke: the solution (or punchline!) is unexpected, but obvious when you know it. Solvers talk of the ‘penny-drop moment’, particularly for clever clues or intricate themes. If the setter can work humour into it, so much the better. 

AC: Yes, it should be cheering, witty, and good-humoured. And, if giving people a month or more to solve it (like my annual Challenge), one should find a balance between the degree of intellectual struggle and the sense of achievement. Minor victories along the way make the solver want to persevere!

AMc: Ultimately, it’s a puzzle and a game. It should be fun, allowing the solver to sit back, satisfied, and think ‘Ooh, that’s clever’, rather than ‘Oh, they’re trying to be clever.’ 

Tell us about a recent clue you were proud of?

AC: I recently clued SIEGE for an event at which the organiser visits each table, collecting ideas and things, in the following way: ‘In which host came round, seeking submission (5).’ 

AMc: A Varsity clue for SPIRIT OF ST LOUIS: ‘Awful if tourists spoil first plane across the Atlantic (6,2,2,5)’. I got some nice feedback from that one, which was lovely. 

HS: One of the solutions in a recent Guardian puzzle of mine was WILD GOOSE CHASE. The clue told the solver to ‘see 1 down and 27 across’, neither of which existed! 

How does crossword setting fit into your day-to-day life?

HS: There’s a part of my setting brain that’s never really turned off. I was at lunch recently and was introduced to someone called Athene. All I could think was ‘Athene… a-then-e… how can I use that for ‘ae’ in a clue?’. When I’m cycling to or from work, my brain cuts words in half, shuffles them around, and fits clues together. Then I have  to try to remember them until I’m at my laptop. 

AMc: Occasionally I’ll spot an interesting word or an ironic situation and try to see how that could be exploited for a clue.

AC: I suppose a wordplay addict is never free from the temptation to Spoonerise and to see anagrams and reversals everywhere. I occasionally read my wife the rubric of the latest Crossword Centre puzzle, in case she ever fears that I am straying into the realm of sanity! 

Finally, how would you clue the word 'matriculate'?

AC: Secure admission that interviewee – Catz linguist – starts amateur career (11) 

HS: Setter welcomes performance of ritual act to start at St Catharine’s (11) 

AMc: Enrol in critical hospital ward, running behind after nine off table (11) 

Archie McCann has kindly set a St Catharine’s themed crossword, which you can find on the back cover of The Wheel.