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Pendragon - I posted earlier this morning, I have been out all day and just returned to the puzzle. You replied to my post at the beginning that I was on the right track, and I could fully justify my answer. I am now completely floored when you post that the centre of Birmingham is not 'in'...
I see I still have a long way to go...

I've completed the grid, correctly I hope, but I've no idea what the central letter might be, or how it might be connected with the other nine (two of which are the same, in my version, at least). I've been staring at the thing for a long time now, and the light refuses to dawn. I'd be grateful if someone could give me a hint, preferably a less than subtle one, as well......

Add the same letter to give abbreviations.

Thank you, I'll try that.

I still don't get it, I'm afraid. I think I'll sleep on it, In the meantime, any further hints will be gratefully accepted (in the morning). Thank you.

I had suggested in 11 and 23 that the answer might be to add the centre square letter to the nine letter clashes to give abbreviations. But I now see that there are at least two letters that would work!

Sleep on it ... it will dawn on you!

All finished except 27d. Any hints?

In 27dn, budgerigars could just as easily have been cats, or dogs.

I don't really see where the abbreviations come from for the replacement letters. They are the initial letters of 9 proper nouns that form an exclusive group. There can only be one letter, again the initial letter of a proper noun, that can plausibly go in the middle, but I don't see where abbreviations fit in.

I'm nearly finished, theme and all, but stuck on 19d and 29a (despite Forum hints). All other relevant letters in place, apart from where these two clues cross. I have a spare "u" to use somewhere in these answers, unless I've gone seriously awry elsewhere.

All help gratefully received.

Not clear to me whether to enter original answers when submitting or the 18 "valid new words"