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Ai is in Chambers under the entry for “ayu”…

ayu /äˈū, īˈ(y)oo/ or ai /ī/
noun
A small edible Japanese fish (Plecoglossus altevis) (also called sweetˈfish)
ORIGIN: Jap

Also…

ob.
abbrev
Obiit (Latin), died
Obiter (Latin), by the way

many thanks, both. My Chambers is in France but i'm about to go out and bring it back.

Yes Jono is correct. We did have a v similar theme not long ago. Set by Jerezana.

Now I got through this all quite quickly except for 10D. Any hints here?

And only loosely connected - how do you finalise the solution to send in? Tediously transcribe all the letters on to a fresh copy?!

Blackcat5,
10d. refers to a character (a sergeant) in a Thomas Hardy novel, also a city that was was besieged.
I can't help with the other, as I don't submit puzzles. I just keep my scribbled grids.

Blackcat,
Submission can be achieved by taking an image of the completed grid with your phone and emailing to it to crosswords@spectator.co.uk.
Include your name and location.

.

Thank you Mattrom for the hint. I'll be reviewing my Thomas Hardys!

And Jonno your solutions must be so much neater than mine. First of all I highlight all the unclued lights in pink, then there's a myriad of erasures, and lots of scribble in the margins.

So for delay in acknowledgement. I seem only to be able to post via my PC, and not on the phone. Even though my phone says: Hello Blackcat and all the rest.

Well thank you everyone for your help with this puzzle, and in general; because I'm a winner! Can't believe it.
And thanks to Patrick O'Brian as well.

Congratulations, blackcat5. I hope youi live close enough to a John Lewis or Waitrose branch so as to be conveniently able to spend your winnings!

Thank you Will. No, no such thing in Aus. Seeing my name in the winners' column is enough of a prize for me!