Listener 4848 Return By Dysart

[emcee]

A cracking finish to a year of great puzzles. What a shame there will be no more Dysart puzzles.

A fine setter.

[Keepatit]

I quite agree, emcee. A lovely farewell, and proof that Playfairs can be fun. He'll be much missed 

[olichant]

I echo this.  I really miss Dysart - a wonderful setter (check how economical all the clues in this puzzle are - pretty much single sentences, forced by space constraints with the usual playfair preamble).  He was hugely generous with his time to new setters like me - without him there is no way I'd have had a Listener published.

 He'll be much missed. 
Thanks, as always, Dysart. 

And this puzzle was a gem.  I wondered how others would feel about the playfair as it's not the most popular device.  I thought it worked so well with this theme. 

[HawkCrossword]

It hasn't reversed my opinion of the Playfair code in  crosswords, but it has softened it. This was a particularly fine example, and what a puzzle to end on. I'll have to keep one aside now, leaving submission instructions to the next of kin. I just had a small drink to Dysart's memory.

[Keepatit]

It was exactly how to use the Playfair, imho. Lots of thematic material, generous enough with the encoding to allow easy cracking with pencil and paper, and resistant to online solvers, which is to be welcomed. Not the toughest, but perfectly executed. Second only to ‘Eck's Ready Now as my favourite puzzle of the year 

[Cruncher]

An enjoyable end to the year and a fitting tribute to a fine setter. I'm generally fairly pessimistic about unravelling Playfairs so was pleased when this one fell into place - and such a relief to be able to stop trawling through interminable plot synopses for the Flashman books which is where my research had got me to.

[Clara2]

I agree with all the above.  I had the pleasure of test-solving this puzzle for Dysart a couple of years ago, though I had completely forgotten the fact; and - like many others - benefitted hugely from his testing and commenting upon my own puzzles.  He is, and will continue to be, sadly missed, both as a fine setter and as a friend.