Thank you so much gem94, s_pugh and gitto. What a wonderful help you all are. As I am pretty much a novice when it comes to The Listener Crossword, can you tell me if it is customary for there to be "clashes" without their being particularly mentioned in the beginning of the preamble? In this one "clashes" are mentioned in passing as if they were a foregone conclusion. Please forgive my ignorance
(and stupidity). Thank you.