CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A maker of rum, at furnace for a change (12)

8. Is much moved, having put on side (8)

9. It may be the dregs, but it comes out on top (4)

11. Make deep research into some Handel Vespers (5)

12. Painting, in a hand’s-breadth, shows it’s a hard life (7)

13. Island naval rating took the French back to (4)

15. Over-production of liver first detected in food-channel (4)

19. Part of university where Old King held part of the match (7)

20. Is more of a supernumerary (5)

22. One almost defunct that may spring to mind (4)

23. Cost one man is involved in for the brotherly life (8)

24. There’s no charge for putting up with sculpture in the round (4-8)

DOWN

2. It is terrible but it is not illicit to be beheaded (5)

3. Family men who may have taken the pledge (6)

4. Is disinclined to a passage in the Bible (6)

5. A telling sort of musical entertainment (7)

6. There’s a strong protest about monster crane (12)

7. The wipe that may come to blows (12)

10. There’s space for the family doctor with a heart (3)

14. Think it to be evil maybe with honeymaker around (7)

16. A lying situation found in the garden (3)

17. Of which two gentlemen possibly took an over (6)

18. Draughtsman turned up to get his just earnings (6)

21. Giant a bird put an end to (5) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Abacus 8. Booze 9. Refugee 11. Knitters 12. Adapt

15. Lime 16. Van 17. Arch 19. Asian 21. Perilous 24. Runners

25. Crown 26. Fitter

Down: 2. Bread 3. Crumpled 4. Seek 5. Abate 6. Pore 7. Less

10. Endeavour 12. Able 13. Bassinet 14. Chin 18. Flank

20. Agree 21. Pick 22. Root 23. Surf