October Prize Puzzle

 Location by Gnomie

An eleven-word quotation appears in the perimeter of the grid reading clockwise from the south-west corner. Solvers must adapt the grid they submit applying the last three words of the quotation, leaving real words when spaces are ignored. Corrected misprints in the definition parts of 24 clues spell two descriptions of the character who will completely disappear from the location. Chambers Dictionary (2016) is the primary reference.

 PDF version here

Across

6 Slyness of long-ago mixing salad oil but not all in one go (5)

9 Fret about poet's tangled earthen soul (4)

10 Weak characters contributing to wartime agreement (6)

11 Second try (3)

12 Concerning a gutted sprat to fry or cure with smoke in Oban (5)

13 Follow after animals, maybe changing the run? (6)

14 Prospects of clubs taken in by very small monetary units (6)

17 Almost obliterate important dates (4)

19 Beaten again with regard to opening of troubled border (6)

21 Keen husband, a very gem at heart (4)

22 Why one exhibits specimens; not totally riveting sadly (7)

24 Forks out tithes north of the border crushing heartless dissent (6)

27 Vote, whether from left or right (5)

28 Ingenuous, retaining first element of trust in a natural state (6)

30 Picts once advanced, pursuing power to exert influence (5)

31 Stun, making a mess of tragedy (7)

33 Dealt cutting blows, pay careful attention involving weight (5)

36 Synthetic rubber article, small lump turned over (4)

37 Honked vomit in a local eatery at first (6)

38 Second showing inside to current cast (5)

39 Smashes false idols India followed (6)

40 Words heard in throat of loser broadcast with energy (6, two words)

41 Scots left tidal race in Lerwick (5)

Down

1 Skips veils (5)

2 Breaks up plot, say, stripping expectations of potency principally (4)

3 One expressing relief - soldier's rejected that woman (6)

4 Juveniles with time advancing become big old folk (5)

5 Parrot genus found in on-line stores (6)

7 Santa very confused; he might appreciate this on his rounds (6)

8 Crucible's vintage frame (6)

15 Picket avenue in business centre (6)

16 Limited fee paid covering appeal (6)

18 Money not entirely dispatched (3)

20 Three, working together, outwit trading in drugs in China (5)

23 During public sale clients primarily raised lack of ware (9)

25 More soul long ago, part of middle-age rerun (7)

26 Determined upon singular methods of promoting skin drainage (6)

29 Lived in Ireland, Spain, France and Gulf essentially (6)

32 Go along with disorganised sector (6)

34 Swore intermittently, nursing rage for animal trapper (5)

35 Democrat regularly ruing quiet burp in Holyrood (5)

36 Second-rate facilities housing a boar in Mumbai (5)

To enter this competition, send your entry as an image or in list format,  to ccpuzzles@talktalk.net before 8th November 2024. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers