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Thanks will37, I see the other definition in Chambers now, which does match “medley”! Also I see a more ring-like trace of the character. Great puzzle. I know some have said it wasn’t very challenging, but I thought there were enough stings in the tail to make it somewhat tricky.

Kitsune,

I believe this parses as - first word refers to two letters of second word ( one of which is extra) followed by a place in the fens (3 letters) - definition last word.

No need to thank me, Kitsune. As soon as I posted my feed also updated to reveal previous support!

Nora,

I hadn't noticed that - but it prompts me to raise something which has been bugging me for some time. My father would call this a 'Library coincidence'. Another example would be learning a new word in the Listener then hearing somebody use it a few hours later. 'Library' presumably refers to the tendency for two books side by side in a library to be, mirabile dictu, about roughly the same subject. My family have been unable to find a source for the term Library Coincidence. Can anybody help? If Listener solvers are unable to help, I will be forced to conclude that the term was made up by my late father.

Coming late to this - can't see 21a. No one else seems to have mentioned it. Cunning?
Otherwise done and quite a nice puzzle.

Hi Lumen,

21a - 5 letter "cunning" minus extra letter (this is tricky because you're probably used to seeing the synonym as 6 letters and ending with a Y) then 2 letter "bridge players" - definition is "packing cases"

I see. Thanks!
But East and South don't play together?

It’s not partners, just players. Usually it would be clued as opponents, but it’s not wrong