Crossword Genius

House recalled by northern chap (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

noel

'chap' is the definition.
(man's name)

'house recalled by northern' is the wordplay.
'house' becomes 'Leo' (Leo is an astrological house in the zodiac).
'recalled' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'northern' becomes 'n' (abbreviation e.g. N. Ireland).
'leo' back-to-front is 'oel'.
'oel' put after 'n' is 'NOEL'.

(Other definitions for noel that I've seen before include "Season around the 25th December" , "seasonal festival" , "Festivity" , "- - Coward, playwright" , "Yuletide" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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