Remembering the crossword setter John Dawson, AKA Chifonie

We say goodbye to a much-loved setter, who has died aged 74

A few years ago, the setter Chifonie, who died on 24 September, aged 74, shared with us the view he looked out on while setting crosswords. It is a stunning vista at Castle Hill, Cumbria.

Chifonie, whose real name was John Dawson, moved to the Lake District in 1990, having stopped working as a design engineer in the chemical industry to spend more time fell-walking, volunteering as a Samaritan and supporting himself by operating a reach truck in a warehouse – and setting puzzles for the Guardian, the Financial Times and elsewhere.

John Dawson, crossword setter, 1946-2020

My thanks to the FT crossword editor, Colin Inman, and to Katherine Davis

I would also like to take the opportunity to share another in our series of Music Recorded During 2020: some hurdy-gurdy; I hope Chifonie would approve