CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Quiet, coarse joke (5)

8 He gives orders for cloth to a worker (8)

9 A matter of extreme interest to the lender (5)

A literary supplement? (8)

A backward idiot, apart from all else (5) Provide a weapon for a member (3)

The falcon Arthur did wonders with (6) Disliking some poetry (6)

Born with knee-cap missing (3)

Dependable form of alloy (5)

Don’t make such a close scrutiny - it is unique (8)

25 The middle area is uninhabited, we hear (5) 26 What the bride says afterwards won’t be in church (8)

Threatened strike that doesn’t come off (5) 10 11 12 16 17 18 23 24 27

DOWN

2 Found the answer again, being

determined (8)

3 Larry won, perhaps, but not by a lot (8) 4 Present causing pain (6)

5 Disputed without right, becoming

feverish (5)

6 Robust half of a famous comedy duo (5)

7 It’s impressive, even when made of rubber (5) 12 Anton lost to a girl (3)

13 West perhaps, or Mother East (3)

14 Recoated as a way to add colour (8)

15 He kills a couple of fools in the end (8) 19 Oriental flower festival (6)

20 Divorce town of southern Europe (5)

21 Singer gets the awkward note right (5)

22 Bill, when about fifty, is desolate (5)

DOWN

2 An uncontested victory (8) 3 Fleeing from the law (2,3,3) 4 An effective action (6)

5 Be relevant (5)

6 Expel from property (5) 7 Subdue forcibly (5)

12 To stitch (3)

13 Astern (3)

14 Justice (4,4)

15 Night (8)

19 Pass away (6)

20 Stage of development (5) 21 Fool (5)

22 Opening in ship’s deck (5)