About Derek Crozier

This is an unofficial biography of Mr. Crozier that I put together from research on the Internet. Given my sources, I can't guarantee accuracy, but everything I have included I believe to be true.

Derek Crozier: Crosaire

Derek Crozier is very unique in the world of crossword compilers, in that he alone has been the man behind the Crosaire crossword The Irish Times for over 60 years. With such a long and distinguished pedigree, Mr. Crozier produces perhaps the last of the “old-style” cryptic crosswords published in the mainstream media.

Derek Crozier was born in Dublin in 1917, and started of his working life in the Guinness Brewery. He studied at Trinity College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1940. Derek immigrated in the late 1940s to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia, as it was then) along with his wife, Marjorie.

In Zimbabwe, Derek farmed tobacco for over 20 years, before moving into teaching in 1963. He taught English at St. George’s College, a prestigious Jesuit boy’s school in Harare (formerly Salisbury). The school is located right next door to the president’s residence, Zimbabwe House, now occupied by Robert Mugabe. Derek retired from teaching 1989, when he was 72-years-old.

Derek’s long tenure as crossword compiler for The Irish Times started back in 1943. Derek convinced the editor at that time, Bertie Smyllie, that a weekly crossword would be a good addition to the newspaper. The first crossword appeared on 13th March 1943, just over 66 years ago. Eventually, the crossword became so popular that in 1982 it started to appear in every daily edition of the paper, just as it does today.

Each day’s puzzle is attributed not to Derek Crozier, but to Crosaire, Derek’s pen-name that has become so celebrated and respected, not only in Ireland but among cryptic crossword aficionados all over the world. Crosaire (pronounced cruss-ara, not cross-air!) is the Irish word for crossing, or crossroads.

The Irish Times is published six days a week, and to keep up with demand, Derek works on 1–1½ crosswords each working day. It takes him about four hours to complete each puzzle. In the past, Derek has relied on friends to hand-carry bundles of crosswords ready for publication back to Ireland rather then rely on the less than consistent Zimbabwe postal system. I would hope that technology has eased this burden in recent years.

Derek’s crossword style is considered somewhat unique these days. Cryptic crosswords started to adhere to a set of informal rules after Derrick Somerset Macnutt’s 1966 publication Ximenes on the Art of the Crossword. Macnutt (a.k.a. "Ximenes" in The Observer) laid down guidelines for compilers that have been used by crossword editors ever since. While most cryptic compilers delight in breaking the Ximenes rules in many creative ways, Derek Crozier doesn't seem to have even read the book, creating crosswords with a traditional flair that is as addictive as it is unique.

Derek is quoted as saying, in a collection of Crosaire crosswords published a decade ago:

“It's splendid to think that there are people who from time to time would love to wring my neck.”

As we’ve seen in this blog, that sentiment applies to this day. We Crosaire fans are loyal, respectful, and appreciative of Mr. Crozier’s style and ability. But, there are times when a little neck-wringing would not go amiss!