CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7. Calmly uncomplaining about oil Polish chap supplies (13)

8. Have a commanding position and drop me in tea by mistake (11)

12. A scholar was in session about the front of the army (6)

14. See rag used for fatty stuff (6)

16. Plant disease can make me wild (6)

18. Moved very slowly in church, to end without a middle (6)

19. Carried out from the middle, grunt if lace gets torn (11)

23. It’s uncertain in matter I need for its construction (13)

DOWN

1. Fellow got this man to be a pedlar (4)

2. How sad Peter is when leaving port (4)

3. Go along and protect company in a sort of rest (6)

4. It is bound to be found in a clockwork model (6)

5. Unnatural craving of a type of magpie (4)

6. What it costs to go for food and drink (4)

9. Turn a clergyman to love of a sort (7)

10. It makes the car, a version of what one breathes through (7)

11. What gardener will remove a small Scotch on the day? (4)

12. Oil drains into it with some presumption (4)

13. Born with no end of 20 (3)

15. Organise how long a play will be shown (3)

17. Kind of pear church takes to be a pipe (6)

18. There’s public disgrace if many are involved in it (6)

19. The stick is roughly to the Northeast (4)

20. Have to have been 13 on 1st December (4)

21. Leaving without one getting a summons to dinner (4)

22. One used to play it with a rubber sealing-ring (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Compromised 7. Precise 9. Abut 11. Least 12. Cobweb 14. Requisition 18. Shaver 20. Aware 22. Loin 23. Outline 24. Independent

Down: 2. Operate 3. Open 4. Elbow 5. Spell 6. Stubs 8. Intruder 10. Contract 13. Ask 15. Ovation 16. Psalm 17. Fever 19. Alien 21. Bole