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"No-nonsense"!

Demeter, Betjeman's verse was, I think, just titled 'Girls'. But if you search for him and some of the girls you'll find it for yourself.
I won't join the chorus of 'well done' to the setter. The arrangement of the grid wasn't bad, but I've seen more sophisticated. The rest of the intricacy of the puzzle is provided by the arrangement of the clues - a setter has all the freedom he wants there : judge a setter by the grid. Not bad, but our expectations have been lowered. Too many good setters have departed and we're making do with the rest...

Thanks KT and Meursault.

Got it now.

As usual I am lagging behind everyone else, still solving the clues. I am stumped by a number, especially 19 and 27 across and 25 down I am aware that 27 is one of the 8 double reduction clues. A hint or hints for the above would be very welcome.

I've now got 27 across!

.....and the other 2 also. Wonderful what a night's sleep can produce!

Both 19a & 25d are subject to a single reduction with 19a being one of the abbreviations. For 25d think church music.

Any chance someone could email me a copy? I'm in Budapest - lovely city & lovely people, but for the first time in over 10 years I've failed to find The Times.
Email: deviant [dot] ian [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks

Just sent so hopefully you'll have received it now.

I've reached the conclusion of this very clever puzzle but am still puzzled by the absence of the sixth character. Have I missed something important along the way?