Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics) header
Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics) profile picture

Ashley aka Boatman

@BoatmanCryptics

Guardian crossword setter & teacher of aspiring word-fiends. Two books of puzzles & the stories behind them: see website for signed copies & masterclasses

 Ditchling, Sussex, UK
boatmancryptics.co.uk
Joined December 2010
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  • Followers1.7K
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Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)Photo by Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
Says @mrhenrymorris, "a Boatman crossword is like a theme park. Each daunting line is a rollercoaster ... He scares you witless. But you can't wait to do it all over again". Correct solutions and the stories behind the puzzles: all booksellers or boatmancryptics.co.uk/produc…
Henry Morris attempts to complete a grid from Boatman - the First 50 in the persona of The Secret Tory

ALT Henry Morris attempts to complete a grid from Boatman - the First 50 in the persona of The Secret Tory

Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

ALT Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

ALT Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

Henry Morris attempts to complete a grid from Boatman - the Second 50 in the persona of The Secret Tory

ALT Henry Morris attempts to complete a grid from Boatman - the Second 50 in the persona of The Secret Tory

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According to @GylesB1 "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best – which means you want Boatman, because he is the best". Find out why in two books for the crossword addict in your life - from wherever you buy good books, or signed copies from: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Take Boatman - The First 50 to the beach: solve the puzzles and then read the stories behind them! Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

ALT Take Boatman - The First 50 to the beach: solve the puzzles and then read the stories behind them! Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul". Boatman - the second 50 contains another 50 puzzles from The Guardian, with five bonus puzzles previously only available online and including puzzles, solutions and the ideas and stories behind them, exemplified by this image of the book opened to show one of the stories, which is accompanied by a picture of a large cow.

ALT Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul". Boatman - the second 50 contains another 50 puzzles from The Guardian, with five bonus puzzles previously only available online and including puzzles, solutions and the ideas and stories behind them, exemplified by this image of the book opened to show one of the stories, which is accompanied by a picture of a large cow.

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Last call! I can take one more person on my autumn online masterclass for aspiring setters and advanced solvers if you reply in the next few days ... Release your inner fiendishness over two afternoons on Saturday 7 and 14 November: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
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In The Guardian #crossword tomorrow: oarsmen going to pieces? They’re prone to complain (7)
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… and if you want to know what that betokens, you’ll have to buy the book!
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
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Advance warning: in The Guardian #crossword on Tuesday 22 September. Let's play!
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Places on my autumn online masterclass for aspiring setters and advanced solvers are starting to fill up, so this is a good time to make sure of your place ... Release your inner fiendishness over two afternoons on Saturday 7 and 14 November: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
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Looking forward to seeing @TheRealJackDee and the rest of the @ISIHAClue gang at @brightdome tonight ...
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Well, this is interesting …
Susie Dent (@susie_dent) profile pictureSusie Dent
@susie_dentApr 10
Delighted to announce this.
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In the @guardian #crossword tomorrow, as false flag erupts in losing Middle Eastern shipping zone (7,4)
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Advance warning ... In the @guardian #crossword next Saturday, 4 April - some things just have to be said.
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I am reminded that today is World Meteorological Day, so enjoy this from The Guardian's archive ... theguardian.com/crosswords/l…
Cryptic crossword No 25,555

Cryptic crossword No 25,555

Cryptic crossword No 25,555

theguardian.com
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In the @guardian crossword tomorrow - no hints, as prizes are at stake - enjoy!
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It appears to be World Book Day, so here are two books to celebrate. Crosswords! And the stories behind them! Both available from all booksellers, or signed copies online from boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
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Brava to masterclass alumna @liari77_becky, who makes a well-earned debut in the Guardian today in her other feathered incarnation as Pavo!
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In or around Sussex on Friday 17 April? Come and see the mighty One World Jazz Orchestra in Ditchling! Bigger than ever, experience the power of a 16-piece big band playing jazz and funk by Mingus, Kenny Wheeler, Steely Dan, Jobim, Radiohead and many more Tickets £20, selling now from jazzetc.co.uk
Image from Ashley aka Boatman (@BoatmanCryptics)
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Advance warning ... In the @guardian #crossword on Saturday 7 March - no hints though, as prizes are at stake
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Vicky Walsh talks about the power of puzzles and the experience of learning to set cryptic crosswords in one of my masterclasses (still one place available in my March class!) in @PrimaMag here: pressreader.com/article/2822…
‘Cross­words are gym­nastics for the brain’ | Prima (UK)

‘Cross­words are gym­nastics for the brain’ | Prima (UK)

‘Some of my hap­pi­est memor­ies from grow­ing up are of sit­ting around the table after din­ner with my par­ents and sis­ters doing a cryptic cross­word together. My dad, Mike, would print out...

pressreader.com
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An extra place has just become available on my 14 / 21 March online masterclass for aspiring setters and keen solvers. Grab it now and release your inner word-fiend! boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Learn to set crosswords like the professionals! Follow in the footsteps of Basilisk/Jack/Serpent, Bluth/Fed/Django, Carpathian/Vigo, Daedalus, Dice/Guinevere, Hudson/Julius/Knut/Magnus, Karla/Wire, Soup and many more. Intensive 8 hours in two sessions £160 online or £195 in person. Past students say: "Great day … Such a complete course" / "Absolutely brilliant … I really feel ready to step up a level now"

ALT Learn to set crosswords like the professionals! Follow in the footsteps of Basilisk/Jack/Serpent, Bluth/Fed/Django, Carpathian/Vigo, Daedalus, Dice/Guinevere, Hudson/Julius/Knut/Magnus, Karla/Wire, Soup and many more. Intensive 8 hours in two sessions £160 online or £195 in person. Past students say: "Great day … Such a complete course" / "Absolutely brilliant … I really feel ready to step up a level now"

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Last orders for Christmas by Thursday 18th, please! Treat the crossword addict in your life to 50 fiendish puzzles in each book with the stories behind them & lots of extras, incl puzzles previously not seen in print. All booksellers, or signed copies from: boatmancryptics.co.uk/crossw…
Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

ALT Reviewing Boatman - the first 50, Alan Connor (The Guardian's crossword editor and the brains behind many of BBC2’s quiz programs) says: "This is one to savour. Boatman's puzzles are witty and ingenious. It is an extraordinary pleasure to read how his unique mind works. The first 50 is a book I never knew I needed in my life. Gift it to yourself and to the word-lovers in yours".

Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

ALT Reviewing Boatman - the second 50, Gyles Brandreth says: "If you want a fiendish crossword, you want the best - which means you want Boatman, because he is the best" and Brian Bilston: "Cracking crosswords - each puzzle a delightful daily workout for the brain and a welcome tonic for the soul".

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