CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Somehow drove around the scale and toppled (12)
8. Raised status of blonde perhaps, following directions (8) 9. Get the pitch right for the melody (4)
11. Avoid old Venice leader around beginning of December (5)
12. I am the favourite American incentive (7)
13. It’s the Devil to be in it, in police custody (4)
15. Need to make some changes in the Garden of Paradise (4)
19. What fisherman may have on the Rugby field? (4-3)
20. Get one in the mire or make me go around Birkenhead (5)
22. The way one walks to the entrance, by the sound of it (4) 23. We lads do turn and hardly move (4,4) 24. Weapon used in pit between courses? (6,6)
DOWN
2. Having fins, a commercial vehicle will need only half (5) 3. A man with taking ways (6) 4. Inter alia, previous wife had inability to read (6)
5. Ticked off the numbers, which was what mattered (7)
6. A peignoir used when undressing, too (8-4)
7. One outstanding in group is going ahead with the ale (7,5) 10. Is crazy to go so to copy one (3) 14. Nothing in scenic change is so brief (7) 16. There’s been a minor explosion in such music (3)
17. Master has adapted to the pupils he teaches (6)
18. Referee turns up when about to finish the guard (6)
21. Corkwood, a block of which turns up (5)