It has been great fun working again this summer and autumn with the only mildly eccentric ex-pedagogue Sirius, inventor of the 3D crossword and tireless fund-raiser for children with visual impairments. Sirius himself is partially sighted, which makes his 3D crossword website and his 3D crossword calendars even more remarkable. We have worked together for two years and we haven't met yet, but we have agreed that when we do meet at Coventry station I'll be the little bald bloke waving a CD of the Financial Times and Eric will be disguised as Patrick Moore.
This year there are two calendars, not one - a calendar of quickie 3D puzzles that we wrote between us, under the wise and knowledgeable guidance of the big bullies in the publications department of the RNIB, who know everything about design and typography and have no compunctions about telling you that your clues are too long, the rotters, and a second calendar of more challenging cryptic puzzles from a host of the best crossword compilers in the land, as well as me and Sirius himself.
Sirius's Milliganesque genius (and his refusal to take no for an answer) last year won over a highly significant moral partner in this venture, Sarah Montague, of Radio 4's Today programme, and the knot was tied with the BBC's Children in Need appeal. This year Sarah Montague took her personal support to a new practical level - she persuaded her Today colleagues to join her in making sound recordings of every crossword in the 'big' calendar to make life easier for solvers who are at a disadvantage by not being able to see very well. Sarah's name, and those of her colleagues, are on the front of the calendar, so I can name them here for a huge round of applause and a chorus of 'jolly good fellow' - Evan Davis, John Humphrys, Rory Morrison, Jenni Murray, James Naughtie, Paddy O'Connell, Susan Rae, Gary Richardson and John Waite.
So can you do anything to help build a grand new school?
Well, yes.
You could pass on the flier at the top of this post to someone you think might be interested (click it for a full-size jpg), either in buying a calendar as a present for a partially-sighted friend or just in spreading the word.
The RNIB calendar is best ordered by visiting Sirius's website and following the link to the RNIB website.
The RNIB calendar is £6.99; the 'big' cryptic one £9.99.
Ta. Locum.
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