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I agree with Quisling. A small hint is that one name that looks to be a familiar foreign form is actually not. I initially fell into that trap.

That insight into the setter’s mind is much appreciated, Ifor. In this case, your choices, perhaps most clearly around the names from the misprints, were - if I may say so - masterly. And, yes, I was way out of my comfort zone and learned a great deal - even if I still don’t really understand the contribution of the last name. But I suspect that the person concerned didn’t either and wasn’t very troubled by the fact as long as the sums worked!

Thanks Quisling and Jack.

I can't see how to generate an O from 28a :-(

Hi Puzzlebadger,

26a I went with "token" instead of "taken".

I wasn't sure but Chambers thesaurus gives "token" as 'symbol, emblem' so that's the best I could come up with.

Spot on, Brendan:)

Ah, thanks Brendan. Now I just need to find two names in the grid (and the mythical creature). I've shaded the "affected" answers and I can see a symmetrical pattern, which means nothing to me.

Puzzledbadger, unless you’re of a particular mind you’re unlikely to spot the theme just from the pattern, unless you took the earlier hint and saw which letters are absent from the initial grid. But the three surnames should lead you to it, and this thread should give you guidance