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This one's giving me a headache. Grid is a mess and I can't see how any of this is meant to fit together!!

Any hints on

24d - Jack nicked when Henry's shed's fitted with supports
20a - Support action to prevent cuts? (I have an answer for this one but can't parse it)
29d - Basic bridge that can be moved
31a - Remove almost all support

Thom,

24d, Jack (as in cards) followed by nicked (stolen) missing 1st letter
28a, Non clashing letter missing from a loose description of a fencing
term, support is the definition of the entry minus the missing letter
29d. Another with a non-clashing letter omitted from the answer, Basic
is the definition of the entry minus the missing letter
31a. Remove is definition, another unclued letter entry, and the support
is something used by artists -minus its last letter

Thanks Gitto! Mostly filled in now down bar 4D. I don't really get what I'm meant to do now. Just got a load of clashes that don't seem add up to much or be any any real order. Oh well!

Thanks Gitto. I'll have another look with your advice in mind (and Google search in hand!)

Haha! I got it! Sort of! Can't quite map the correct spelling of the one below the clashes. But near enough. Cool story too.

I have an almost full grid with 10 clashes and 8 unchecked letters, so 4 short of the 22 cells needed for the endgame. I can see a possible pattern which would give an obvious symbol. I assume that the 4 cells I need come from my two incomplete entries. These are 20a (British socialist who wrote books on US subjectively? 4 letters, I have WE?N) and 4d (Watered soil around base of oregano 5 letters, I have MO?BE).

To complete the possible pattern the ? In 20a (which is an unch) and the B in 4d would need to be involved.

All assistance gratefully received!

Your N and B are incorrect. 20, US is a red herring and should be read as not capitalized. Books is standard abbrev for book x 2.

TO be clear, the N and B are not correct for these clues, but may be correct for the crossing clues.

Thanks, Buddy. I understand. And I was wrong about 20a; the emergent pattern needs the final letter (my N) involved, so that works fine. Close to the line now!

And all done. Quite the story!