Mike Laws

Author   linxitPosted on Categories Announcement
I’m sorry to have to report that Mike Laws, one of the three Mephisto setters, died last night. Apart from the Mephisto, he was also a former Times and Guardian setter, and Times Crossword editor from 2000-2002. He also set Listener crosswords, Enigmatic Variations in the Sunday Telegraph, and was a setter and editor of the Independent’s Inquisitor series.

I met him a few times at various crossword events and always found him very friendly, witty and incredibly knowledgeable on practically every subject. I was hoping to meet him again next Tuesday at the Ship and Shovell, but no doubt many a glass will be raised in his honour instead. He’ll be a great loss to the crossword community as a whole, and I’m sure you’ll join me in offering commiserations to his family and friends.

The initial announcement was made by John Henderson on the Crossword Centre’s message board, where you’ll find a large number of glowing tributes from setters and solvers alike.

5 comments on “Mike Laws”

  1. I think we should at least record our sadness here. His Mephisto puzzles were always a pleasure to solve over many years and latterly to blog on this site. He will be missed.
  2. This is a devastating loss to all who love cryptic crosswords.
    Some of us are very lucky to have known Mike for many years; I’m one of the less fortunate, having only met him twice (at S&B gatherings) where his enthusiasm for all things crossword was immediately apparent and infectious.
    I also found him to be hugely encouraging – he was highly complimentary about an Imperator barred puzzle sample I sent to him; his kind words will always outlast whatever potential that puzzle may have had.
    Although I’ve never been a Mephisto solver, I did tackle his tribute to Alec Robbins in an Inquisitor puzzle a little while back; it was joy to solve and accessible enough for me to finish it unaided (a first for me).
    Mike will be very sorely missed.
  3. Raise a glass to him on my behalf at the Ship and Shovel on Tuesday. And on behalf of all those of us who didn’t know the man personally but were richly entertained by his work. Thank you, Mr Laws.
  4. Interestingly enough, many years ago I arrived late at a “meet the interns” do at work clutching a copy of the crossword (telegraph i think at that time), no doubt with one or two clues missing which had held me up. As I grabbed a glass of whatever plonk was on offer, one of the more forward interns sidled up and said something along the lines of “ah, crosswords, my father works in crosswords”. Having discussed the various merits or otherwise of the genre, I filed away the name Mike Laws in my memory, not knowing at the time anything about him. It was only years later that I recognised the status of the guy, and the odd introduction has always stuck in my mind. Funnily enough, Laws Jr got the job and I believe went on to be fairly successful!
  5. How very sad. I knew Mike for over 25 years and always found him a good-mannered and congenial friend, especially over a leisurely pint or few. His lifelong dedication to the crossword world was something that so many solvers will treasure, even if they never met him. He will be missed greatly.

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