As a Member of the Magic Circle I was banned, so to fill in time, I began solving the occasional cryptic in the wardroom papers until I got to the stage I was solving 12 puzzles every day. On these occasions the aircrew often played cards – for money. Later, as an officer, when my squadron was stationed in Cornwall, we were often stopped from flying by the winter weather. Lower deck life in the RN precluded my seeing regular crosswords. My mother was an avid reader and my father used to win literary competitions in magazines. Roger: I think I got my love of words from my paternal Grandmother, a well-known Victorian poet. How did you get interested in crosswords? Next year, DV, will be my 49th year as a setter. In 1981 I became the crossword editor of the Birmingham Post for 22 years. The head of Central Press Features put my name forward as the “World’s Most Prolific Crossword Setter” and Norris McWhirter of Guinness Records, accepted the record in 1978.
However, their fees were small and I found that, to earn a decent living, I had to provide 40 crosswords every week. I immediately cut down my “show business” activities to remain at home to look after the pre-teenage boys.īack in 1963 I was accepted as a regular setter for the Birmingham Post, and several crossword syndicates. All went well until 1977 when my marriage broke down. I had no real qualifications so, while looking around for a “proper” job, earned my living from my hobbies – performing magic and playing small parts on TV, and setting crosswords. I was initially accepted but, when told I would be moved to Air Traffic Control, I decided to leave. Coming from the lower deck my commission meant I had to request to remain in the service at age 30. My first Squadron was test flying the new Gannet anti-submarine aircraft, and then later, as a Lieutenant, I served in Air Early Warning and Radio Warfare Squadrons, in various carriers, visiting over 50 countries. I applied and flew back to England for the first course, and qualified as a Sub-Lieutenant Observer in the Fleet Air Arm. Lord Louis Mountbatten, then a Sea Lord, became worried at the number of aircrew getting killed with the new fast jets landing on old carriers, and announced a new scheme whereby lower deck ratings could volunteer for flying training. In 1952 I was in Malta serving in HMS Ocean, en route for the Korean War. By the age of 20 I had served in frigates and destroyers, and was what is believed to be the youngest ever Seaman Petty Officer. Of course, everyone knows how important Latin is to a naval officer! Instead I waited another two years, gained my school certificate, then volunteered for the Royal Navy as a Boy Seaman at age 15.
I passed but the scholarship wasn’t awarded as my Latin “was not up to the standard required”. I sat the exam for Dartmouth Naval College at 13 needing a scholarship as we couldn’t afford the fees.
Roger: From the age of 7 WWII opened my eyes to the world and I decided very early on that I wanted to see the world. It is great to be talking with you, Roger. In this interview, Roger Squires talks about the highs and lows of his extraordinarily eventful life, his approach to crossword-setting, and the secret of his enduring creativity. Roger Squires aka Rufus/Dante, with decades of work as crossword setter, continues to entertain us like no other. He is also among the most popular, admired for being witty and fair and accessible all at once, a feat few compilers can pull off. He holds the Guinness record for being the most prolific crossword setter in the world.
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