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The following message has appeared at The Times Crossword Club.

Anyone for tennis??

John Green is retiring from marking and record-keeping for the Listener Crossword and we are looking for a successor to start in January 2025. Please contact marker@listenercrossword.com if interested.

The main tasks involved are:

Receiving all Listener Crossword entries by post at a United Kingdom address (which will be published with the Listener Crossword in The Times).
Checking all entries for errors and cataloguing the individual errors made.
For every solver who submits an entry, recording the solver’s entries for the year and which errors they made on each puzzle.
After the closing date for each puzzle, randomly selecting three correct entries to win prizes.
Sending each week’s results (winners’ names and addresses, number of correct/incorrect entries, list of errors and names of the solvers who made each error), along with all comments that solvers have included with their entries, to the setter of the crossword, with copies to the Listener vetters.
At the end of each year, preparing statistics on the year’s crosswords. For each solver who requests it, sending them a copy of the report along with their personal solving record for the year (entries received and errors made).
The number of entries varies each week but is currently averaging around 400. The new marker may want to consider enabling entries by email as well as by post.

The marker will be provided with the correct solutions to the crosswords in advance, but may occasionally need to discuss with the vetters whether alternative solutions should be allowed. They may submit entries as a solver — provided they haven’t seen the answer, of course — and their own entries should be marked and recorded like any other solver’s submissions.

The position is unpaid, but reasonable expenses (eg for stationery or postage) may be claimed. Communication by email is preferred, to save time and costs.

A truly significant end of an era. The man should get a knighthood or an MBE or something.

Indeed. I should have added my thanks, although I haven't submitted for many years. Postal entry just seems a little antediluvian.

What a Job Description!!

All that work for no pay? Sign me up! Oh, rats, I don't have a UK postal address.

It seems to me that all that is really required of a marker is a yes (all correct) or a no (some errors). Then draw 3 winners from the "yes" pile. Given that answers are published, anyone who really wants to know their error stats can figure that out for themselves.

If vetters and setters want to see the feedback from solvers, set up an email address for that (listenergripes@gmail.com).

It is remarkable, to put it mildly, that Mr Green performed that service for so many years, but it seems unreasonable to expect someone to pick up that torch, especially since number of entries could increase substantially if email submissions are allowed (e.g. from me & I assume many other overseas solvers).

Totally agree Buddy

I would not even mark all of them.

Keep drawing until three correct. Bin the rest.

I can't believe JG did such a superb job for so long for no remuneration - he deserves, and has, my total respect.

As for the job, it would mean no more holidays etc. which seems rather unfair and against the WTD, and as to e-mail entries I certainly wouldn't want my personal e-mail address published in the Times every week. I'm concerned as to how that would be managed.

If there are ~400 entries a week and they need checking, errors recorded and statistics catalogued and saved, I struggle to see how you achieve that each week. Even doing 7 ten hour days gives you only approximately 10 minutes per entry - and that is some going.

I don’t think you would need to use a personal email address. It would be a Times one like any other work email.

It won’t be taking 10 minutes per entry - probably nearer 2 although accept there is still lots to do for an unpaid role but imagine a Listener / crossword fan who has retired might be up for taking on the role.

The Listener already has its own email addresses. For instance, if you win and want to choose a prize other than Brewer's then the address is prizes@listenercrossword.com. If you'd like to succeed JEG, write to marker@listener ......!

Any takers yet? I doubt it.

John Green deserves some credit for his Herculean efforts and nxe's jocular suggestion of some sort of formal recognition has much merit. Who is responsible for doling out the gongs?

Indeed Mr Green does deserve all our thanks, even from those of us who never submit.

It's due to unselfish people like him and all the kind setters that we have a very enjoyable but sometimes frustrating puzzle to tackle each week. I don't know how much a setter earns for submitting a Listener but I can't imagine it's in any way reflective of the amount of time it takes to compile.

So heartfelt thanks to all involved