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Opto. Having completed the puzzle, you now know the name and significance of the date. The 7 themed clues are simply a clever working of the celebrant’s style. Persevere, you will enjoy them and the title of the puzzle as well. Very elegant all round.

Completed inc. the puzzle title but, as ever, there's one ?? left and that's the parsing and thematic treatment for 22d.

The wordplay for the thematic version takes you up to, and including, Alabama. There’s a silent letter involved.

Thanks Merenz...I'll give it another Paddington hard stare....

Granama1, there was a hint for 22 posted earlier. I don't like the clue though. I've never heard the five-letter word for confederacy with an o at the end. It's always a as far as I knew. It is in Chambers though with both.

The one I still can't parse is 5d. I even know the extra letter because of the theme, but if anything, that's making it harder.

oriel is the small room ...replace the E with a(accepted)

Thanks, bunty! (auto correct tried to change you to bunny.) I've seen "oriel" in enough crosswords too, but it just wouldn't come to me.

Somebody please put me out of my misery. I've done it all except the middle letter of 27d ..... I even know the extra letter, but can't parse the clue so can't decide which of the two acceptable alternatives is correct. No one has questioned this clue so I guess it's straightforward but I just can't see it. Thanks

Steve... the last three letters are an archaic word for long (verb). First two (plus your missing letter in the middle) gives you a word for evil.