I've been re-reading the best parts. Here are some more:

1. I don't have the exact reference, but near the beginning is something about "the great eastern door" of the cathedral. Cathedrals usually have their big door at the west.

Is York an exception?

2. a BOULEVERSED beetle

3. a MILLS and BOON fan

4. I believe there's a wrong word used in this one: "in a bass-baritone more leathery than velvety but nonetheless melismatic he boomed out the opening lines of 'Happy Days are Here Again.'"

I think he means 'melodious.' In a melismatic song syllables have more than one note. Such as

and he shall puri - fa ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah -y the sons of Levi.

5. He (a cop) was more concerned with paper chases than BLUES AND TWOS hot pursuit.

6. She was long practiced in the art of SCIA-MIMICRY.

7. I had to smile at this one: Her expression as she made her way back to Maggie was GORGONIAN.

I saw that it was derived from the Gorgon Medusa, of course, but my first thought was of the sea creature, the gorgonian, or sea fan.
She was on a yacht; maybe she'd fallen overboard and had a sea fan plastered on her face.
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Les, that was an astute observation about the tense in 'going on' and 'going off.'

I enjoy hearing from all you northerners on this thread.