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BTW Jono does that come from a blend of castle and rook? Just curious.

I’ve read… “the term is often thought to be named after the nineteenth-century chess problemist E.B. Cook”.
I have no idea if this is true.

The "cook" term has come up before on the forum.
As applied to chess problems/studies, it seems the etymology is unclear.
See for instance

https://www.edcollins.com/chess/cooks.htm

Although the term is often thought to be named after the nineteenth-century problemist E.B. Cook, it is probably derived from the word's English slang meaning. (To tamper with or foil.)

https://en.chessbase.com/post/study-of-the-month-2021-04

I agree that there likely is no connection to Eugene B. Cook, but we reproduce one of his endgame studies below, as it is useful for practical play.

Thanks Geeker, like you I remember discussing this before.

In the chessbase link just posted, there's an excerpt from correspondence with a noted expert in the field:

"On 16 March 2021, Harold van der Heijden wrote (in an e-mail forwarded by him on 3 April 2021 to me...

The term “cook” in English does not only refer to second solutions or duals. Many people, like myself, also use it for refutations (unsoundness). Also “duals” is not so clear, some reserve this qualification for a minor dual rather than a second solution. For the endgame study area I wrote an article on minor duals which I believe has received general recognition.

The English say: “I cooked a study” intending to say that they have found a study to be unsound (unsound, second solution, dual), i.e. something like “I wasted a study”.

It seems that some websites ascribe this term to the problemist Eugene Cook. But I think that there is no proof for that."

From memory I suspect this was more difficult than usual Brendan., however have finished and did enjoy the challenge.
Unfortunately although I’m pretty sure my solutions are correct I have no idea what the theme is!!
FOI 13a
LOI 11a
COD 12 with 13 and 10
15 is also a contender but I’m still struggling with parsing, got the legendary crew and the car dropping last but a pre 1957?
Looks as if the second test is not going to have the same exciting finish as the first. All to play for at Lords.

Look at clues 25a, 5d, 14d, 15d for a shared something that suggests the theme.

Thanks geeker it took a while but have finally got it.

Geeker and Jono many thanks for your combined input and now that discussion is ringing bells with me too. Though as a non chess player I just absorb it all and end my Saturday grateful that I have left the forum more knowledgeable than when I went in. Good night all.