CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A stimulant needed by one in two clergymen, one being backward (7) 6. Stick to thrash one (5) 9. Is keen to get it to agree (5) 10. A fellow, elderly, who ran things (7) 11. Slip back in fear or remorse (5) 12. Parts one goes over and over, one is told (5) 13. It might entice king to put it under one’s collar (7) 15. Nil tax company returned for the book (6) 16. Saint used to flavour pesto (5) 18. Sort of pink gold found in one of the USA (5) 20. A priest’s daughter and sister to his nephew (5) 21. Jeer at what one has to eat (5) 22. May set out to be lubricious (6) 25. A casserole tailless dog is about to start nibbling (7) 26. Drum bashing out a bit of dance music (5) 27. Gloomy debtor to give one’s attention to (5) 28. Human beings generally find the male to be helpful (7) 29. It will have a neat look, this flower (2-3) 30. Provide means of support for party in new arrangement (5) 31. It does a little browsing (3-4)

DOWN

1. Have fanciful ideas about it as crime? No! (11) 2. Where the vaporetti may even be in charge (6) 3. Sort of pumpkin one might beg leaver to warm (9,6) 4. Compensates various seers among the revolutionaries (9) 5. As active as an American soldier is in drink (5) 6. At which to meet the media and urge a powwow (5,10) 7. Needs are perhaps met by a romantic song (8) 8. His appreciation of music is what listener gives to it (3) 14. How could shark end on my reel? (11) 17. Or, ailment he could get by putting head in his charge’s mouth (4-5) 19. Brown loaf may be dry: a re-mix is necessary (8) 23. Perhaps it is a lie that one will get in touch (6) 24. ‘Is river is burnt brown (5) 27. It is expected to be one’s entitlement (3)