CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Given it’s the way a student gets funded? (7) 5. Discussion meeting showing return of spirit (5)

8. Man in boat with a right to be held by Turkish empire founder (7) 9. Is among the last three of the brethren to be up (5) 10. Sound reporter of the Musical Times? (9)

12. Best of a number of games to gel (3)

13. A journey to the East? What nonsense! (5)

17. Is past when following the West (3)

19. Sandwiched, one may wager there’s very little in the tavern (2,7) 21. Not being tight, misplace nothing in the centre (5)

22. Suffer a French Communist setback, and depart (7)

24. Flight perhaps taken by one setting things in motion (5) 25. A number making one of Attila’s people dread a loss (7)

DOWN

1. Men in the stables or at altars (6)

2. Heartless age assessed as being full of bubbles (7)

3. Bell the cat? (3)

4. Native of Australia doing it the wrong way (5)

5. Stuffing the police with beef, perhaps (9)

6. Chances skiers being upset at losing a point (5)

7. This bell sounded in mourning, to be exact (6)

11. They have long odds, the cads! (9)

14. Get over obstacle of her losing her head to be more intelligible

(7)

15. In a vessel the water supply spreads (6)

16. In the end only half go after one to hold in one’s arms (6)

18. Push right out of the day before Ash Wednesday (5)

20. Change colour at finding local leader in uncultivated country (5)

23. A lot of noise made by 4 for the most part (3)