Have  you tried the cryptic crossword in your newspaper, but found yourself baffled by the clues? Or would you like to tackle a more difficult daily puzzle? This is the course for you! A similar course was held in 2007 and attendees said it helped them to solve more clues than before.

Peter Biddlecombe has reached the final of the Times Crossword Championship eight times, winning it in 2000 and 2007. It took him several years to solve cryptic puzzles confidently, so he knows how you feel. Peter has a respected web-site about cryptic crosswords and helps solvers from all over the world by answering e-mailed queries about cryptic clues.

Practice is as important as knowledge, so during the course most of the time will be spent solving puzzles - some with hints, and some unaided. The puzzles will be ones from national “quality” newspapers, including The Times. Along the way, we’ll show you the types of clue you can expect to see, and give you many tips about how to solve them.

This year’s course includes a talk by Don Manley. Don is the author of Chambers Crossword Manual, and writes puzzles for the Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, and Independent on Sunday. Don will give us an inside view of writing cryptic crosswords for different newspapers.

Cost: £25 including morning coffee, lunch, and afternoon tea. You will receive printed notes covering topics like clue types, and your own copy of each of the sample puzzles.

Course fees will be donated to St Mary’s Church Project, which aims to improve St Mary’s Church, Princes Risborough by reordering the interior and building an extension with new facilities.