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36D: English 'esssayist' getting help climbing..
What are the inverted commas telling me ?

It's telling you that it's an unusual meaning of essayist. Chambers gives you the various meanings of the verb 'to essay' and consequently 'essayist'. Put E for English in front of one of them and you get a climbing aid. Hopes this helps

Thanks Farr - the penny dropped as I was having lunch. The word after the E came "out of the blue" following a few days fruitless thought.
Are you set to enjoy Christmas having completed the puzzle ?
After a struggle I sorted all the carols and now have only 40A to keep me amused.

This is a postscript rather than a reply. Having replaced the "G" for an "S" in 26D I have now readily solved 40A.
Grateful for the help in this thread. Now the dreary business of making a neat copy.

I have to admit that I had given it up as living in Canada I have to get it in a week ahead of the limit and there plenty of other things to be done at this time of year. However your query has given me the urge to try again. I think it was the bottom right corner which gave me all the trouble so I might get back to you for help.
Cheers