Saga Crossword November 2014

[flan]

Hello - I have had the pleasure and privilege of setting the monthly Saga Prize crossword for the last 17 years under my setter's name of 'Cullen'. Quite apart from the honour, it has been fun watching the questions and answers by Saga crossword aficionados on this blog. May I please say 'Well Done' to all of you! Unfortunately, the bean counters have been at work at Saga, seeking to enhance the magazine's and the group's profitability with the result that from January 2015 all the Saga puzzle pages are moving across en bloc to the Puzzlermedia plc people. Consequently, December's prize crossword is due to be my last and I am going to lose my mandate through no fault of my own. It has appeared that many of you have enjoyed my setting style down the years and I would also like to say a big 'thank you' for that too. I have no firm indication of the standard which the Saga Prize crossword is going to be in future but suspect that it may well become another 'Times', 'Independent', 'Guardian' or even 'Telegraph' all of which are rather below the sort of cryptic I had always sought to create. So I would like to take this opportunity to say - "If you don't much like the sort of prize crossword you are going to be offered from January 2015 onwards, then do please write to The Editor at Saga (her name is Katy Bravery and she's very nice indeed - it wasn't she who is responsible for the forthcoming change - it's the bean counters!). If she receives enough grumbles from any of you who are going to be unhappy with the new crossword style, I might get my mandate back. If not, so be it". Thank you so much to all you solvers whose handles have become quite familiar from scanning the blog over recent years and I have to also say how impressed I have been with many sparkling answers. Please forgive this cri de coeur at probably saying goodbye after 17 years. With best wishes to you all. Cullen.

[Mamyalynne]

Hi Cullen


I don't take the magazine but I know many do as evidenced on here. You have given many people many hours of pleasure over the years and it would be great to think you could continue to do so.

[AB Editor]

Thanks for this post. I've made it sticky so, hopefully, more people will see it.

[flan]

Dear Mamyalynne - Thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated! Separately, most cordial thanks to the AB editor for seeing fit to make my message a 'sticky' post. I assume that will help to have more bloggers read it. Thanks again, both. Cullen.

[sandyRoe]

I don't take the magazine either. Judging from the questions I see posted here it's not the easiest. So I'm particularly chuffed when I do see an answer and can help another ABer.
It's a pity to hear that the style might be changing.

[shaneystar2]

I've enjoyed tussling with the Saga crossword for a long time .Shame they feel it has to be changed .Thanks for all those devilish clues over the years .
If I don't like the new one they'll be hearing from me !

[patsyann]

I am really upset. The best day of the Month is when Saga Magazine arrives. I will be writing to the Editor. Possibly will cancel my subscription .

[patsyann]

Letter of protest now written and ready for posting.

[Calibax]

I not a subscriber to Saga magazine but delight in helping solvers on here. The clues are very enjoyable and usually more challenging than the run-of-the-mill cryptic crosswords. It will be a great pity if they disappear. I hope you are reinstated but whatever happens, very best wishes for the future.

[pjwillcox]

What a shame - it has only been the crossword that has kept me subscribing, as I shall inform the gnomes at Enbrook Park. An enjoyable and thoughtfully challenging puzzle with an individual style. (My enjoyment was also helped by picking up the £100 a few years back). I do hope we shall see the Cullen nom de plume beyond December. With best regards.

[shoota]

Cullen culled....

There must be another organ who would be glad of your services?

[Lie-in King]

I've never seen the puzzle but am sure I must have answered a couple of clues on AB. I know from the frequency of posts that many people have enjoyed your setting & that you have confounded many more.

I hope you find an outlet for your skills soon :-)

[Polly37]

You have done a fantastic job over the years Cullen. I can never get started without help - once I have got started I can manage most of them then. I will certainly write in after we have been told officially you are gone. Good luck to you in the future.

[rccatnap]

I do take the Saga magazine and even won a prize with your crossword some years ago, which was a wonderful surprise. I will look out for the new standards and if there's the slightest hint of 'dumbing down' in the new year, I will launch a blistering attack on those 'bean counters'. Personally, I don't think they've thought it through and I will certainly cancel my subscription if standards are lowered.
I don't have any direct influence on the sad demise of your contributions, but thank you for the devilish clues in the past. I do hope you are snapped up by publishers who appreciate quality. Best wishes for the future.

[Gill55]

Before my father passed away two years ago I always did the crossword and won a runner up once many years ago. Have just subscribed to the Saga, one of the main reasons because I love doing the crossword. Feel a bit disappointed now! You have done a wonderful job Cullen!

[Palustris]

May I add my gratitude for the many hours of pleasure you have given me. If the Crossword goes the way of many others then I for one will be cancelling my subscription to the magazine. I only get it for the Crossword.

[Acrosticus]

I have emailed the editor to complain, and I will be not be renewing my subscription, since the Prize Crossword is the main reason I take Saga Magazine.
Thank you for the challenges, and I hope things will change.

[Roothy]

It is great to finally put a name to the setter of the Crossword in Saga magazine which is so much more challenging than other cryptics. Also considering not renewing as, like others who have written, I mainly get the magazine for the crossword. Will definitely register my protest and hope this can be reconsidered.

With best wishes. Roothy

[pammywammy]

Oh no! I rarely manage to finish your crossword, but have once won the runner up prize, and I am always impressed by your setting. I too may cancel my subscription to Saga if the standard falls. Good luck.

[marray]

When things are good and enjoyable along comes Management and declares "New & Improved" It happens all the time. Now one of the best Crossword Compilers is about to be "New & Improved" (and cheap to satisfy the greedy money-boys). Mr Cullen- your puzzles have been the highlight of many persons' lives - giving hours of brain-exercise, helping us stave of dementia and the like. My grateful thanks and the hope that my complaint to Saga and that of many other "household names" who have kept the spirit of "Puzzling" going for so long will give the Editor a jolt and make him realise that "New & Improved" is seldom true. -from one of your fanbase and indeed a fellow-compiler too - but my Crosswords have to be Technical and in Spanish - my overseas Technical Journal Editors (so far) have left me alone ! Good Luck & au revoir - NOT Goodbye though ... watch this space !

[flan]

For the various kind thoughts above I'm truly and humbly grateful. It's been a lot of fun and mischief over the years and I'll miss it!
Cullen