CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A blue pearl’s capable of being gratifying (11)

6. Old Trilby is out-of-date (3)

8. A gathering of the RUC he joined (5)

10. They lead the way, having switched parts in guard’s van (9)

11. A carmine stretch of water (4)

12. Fragrant gum returned in timeless fashion (5)

13. Alert bay to possible treachery (8)

16. Heating apparatus is, for example, far from it (3,4)

17. Horse artist held by rating (4)

18. Keep a tight hold on this piece of luggage (4)

19. Fatty dope is a variety of it (7)

21. Weapons fail to hit French islands (8)

23. Air MP had of a ruler of Troy (5)

26. What may be afoot at the back of the car (4)

27. Flowers got up in a sort of prism (9)

28. Rule the sound precipitation makes (5)

29. A spirit supplied by lords and ladies (3)

30. Presence of bacteria: to escape it, I am moving about (11) DOWN

1. Do crime by means of favourite manner (10)

2. Excessive regard for observances in form of classic is emetic (15)

3. Looking for a way to understand a monarch (7)

4. Is not sleeping at a funeral party (5)

5. Try to equal a running bird, now dead (7)

6. Being of both sexes could hamper him: it’s rod that needs changing (15)

7. Job one is taken to by way of reprimand (4)

9. The thigh of an actor who rants (3)

13. Sale, bit of which is beastly (7)

14. Sit and drop out of the stands (7)

15. Craving for alcohol: a nomad is pi about it (10)

19. Affirms a fool needs rest anyhow (7)

20. Opera I’m writing about big shops (7)

22. Something that takes place in seven tragedies (5)

24. Richard is defending a deer (3)

25. Encouragement got from siding (4)