Thanks essjay and jono for your help. I entered 24a in ahurry and invented a place called Bangladore (!), which torperdoed my chances, despite having worked in the real place. Re 17a, essjay, the Swift has been known for much longer than Taylor, and is the anagram as indicated. We actually grow the vegetable at home in UK, but with the crosser from Bangladore could only come up with sear!