Margaret Irvine

Margaret Irvine (20 January 1948 – 24 June 2023) was a British crossword compiler. She created hundreds of cryptic crosswords between 2006 and 2023 mostly for The Guardian under the pseudonym Nutmeg. She also set puzzles in The Times, The Church Times and, as Mace, in the New Statesman. , Irvine was The Guardian's 7th most prolific current cryptic crossword setter and the 24th most prolific all-time setter. When she was 11, they moved to Bispham, near Blackpool and two years later they moved again to Fetcham, Surrey.

Education and career Irvine studied maths and economics at the University of York before going to work at the Home Office. Irvine set over 180 cryptic crosswords for The Guardian over the course of her career.

In 2016, she joined compilers Arachne and Puck to create a crossword to mark UN World Toilet Day under the joint pseudonym 'Bogus'.

Personal life Irvine was active in Girlguiding, being a Brown Owl for a Brownie pack for almost 20 years and winning a Queen's Guide Award.

Irvine suffered a fall in 2022 from which she never recovered; she died in 2023.