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Feipedon, some people aren't happy that this Answers thread was started, but I don't think many (any?) answers have been given in the past couple of months.

Some people aren't happy that answers aren't being given, despite the title. Regular solvers are quite happy to give fairly generous hints - that's as far as most helpers seem prepared to go.

PS I don't have any ideas for a completely satisfactory solution!

You’re welcome turast. I liked your idea but I had to use google to see what your meant for 1a as I hadn’t heard of that band.

Thanks for giving me "A Little Loving", numbskull. I've completed as much of the grid as I am able. I've got the quatrain, I've solved all of the clues correctly and I'm now left with columns 1, 3,4,5,6, 7,8 & 13 incomplete due to unresolved across jumbles. It's probably going to be a stretch, but can anyone suggest a way forward without incurring the wrath of the purists. Should the perimeter read as something?

On each row there is a thematic item formed around the central column, if you enter the unused letters in the right order.

Turast, some of the thematic items can be discerned without necessarily completing the jumbled entries. Consider the last line of the quatrain, and row 2 is probably the best place to start. Rows 7 and 8 also quite good.

Would it help to solve the dilemma if an answer were to be given in coded form, using a caesar cypher? Only if very urgently requested, of course. It would prevent other people from accidentally seeing the actual answer and thus having their enjoyment spoiled. And perhaps it could be prefaced with a spoiler alert.

That's an excellent suggestion

Regarding the preamble instruction “reorder the rows”, surely there are two interpretations - one involving a rubber and one scissors. Or am I missing something?

Unclued, I suggest you try the second option first to see what the result is. I think your first option won't achieve all the necessary thematic features, though I confess I haven't tried it.

I've followed this thread with increasing incredulity. Notwithstanding the thread's title and the preamble at the beginning of the thread, it's clear that 99% of contributors do not ask for answers en clair, nor do they wish to give answers en clair. I cannot see any reason why they should be forced to do so by the insistent (even bullying) demands of someone who is behaving like a spoiled child who's denied a toy. And I would be very surprised if the forum Administrator to whom he appeals were to intervene saying we were durty-bound to give answers. Buzzb at post 38 said all that needed to be said.

There has been acrimony in the past on the Listener threads in this forum. Fortunately the person causing the acrimony left long ago, and there has bee relative peace until now.