CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Story about island race is gossip (6) 4 Holiday downpour and what it may do to one’s activities? (8) 9 Tear after father or mother (6) 10 Teachers call it the range of a singer’s voice (8) 12 Love to take advantage of river (4) 13 Prices of lettuce good man rejected (5) 14 Young reporter with article showing place in Caribbean (4) 17 Enters before the others and wins (5,2,5) 20 Kind of floating marina in Utah (12) 23 American tug (4) 24 Annie gets confused and foolish (5) 25 It’s never been seen, still I must follow it (4) 28 Man facing beast needs to study other men (8) 29 Company’s staff about, exhibiting charm (6) 30 Put a limit on a conurbation that’s maximum size (8) 31 Frank and I in Diplomatic Corps (6)

DOWN 1 Fine score with set up

snooker shot (3-5) 2 Boring ties — more

variation is needed (8) 3 Seafarers cross it ceremonially in number of ships (4) 5 Experts on current

problems (12) 6 Understand it has

potential for growth (4) 7 A king hurt twisted character in legend (6) 8 Point supported by unusual Roman invader of Britain (6) 11 Highly capricious bounder (8,4) 15 There’s one in every agony letter in magazine? (5) 16 Test piece (5) 18 Eccentric declines to be kept quiet (8) 19 Went into service? (8) 21 Arcane section of army stick together (6) 22 Take out from the paper (6) 26 Turn over stuff that remains from pressed grapes (4) 27 Mountain ash? (4)