CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

9 She, all stirred up with ire, is to create a stink (5,4) 10 Picture frayed and old, showing a butterfly, for example (5) 11 Funny man, criminal, putting any number off (7) 12 Jewish sect possesses identity this writer’s provided (7) 13 Something added on the end of affectionate princess’s letter? (5) 14 Shakespearean fool joins gang, becoming rotten (9) 16 Diplomatic officer, one with volunteer force in surprisingly athletic army (8,7) 19 About to be met by coastal sport expert and bob up again? (9) 21 Give some bottles a rinse — there’s poison there (5) 22 Top mother

embracing proposition, exuding love (7) 23 Negative information about free

membership to club? (7) 24 Fifty little things charged up with pride? (5) 25 Like some logs from a pine ruined by awful

rain (9)

Down

1 Writer of instructions for selective school

that’s 6? (10) 2 Unblemished business conglomerate? A lie

that is put out (8) 3 Point conveyed by lover texting (6) 4 Sign of sorrow or rage (4) 5 Hot tea, alas, tricky to find in Hawaii (5,5) 6 Maiden meeting cast with inappropriate

character? (8) 7 National leader gets good greeting and is

entertained (6) 8 Kind, like those supporting Bond’s boss (4) 14 Slightly odd foreign parts to entertain a

fighting force preparing in advance (10) 15 EU pondering changes — I would drop

its outdated financial concept (5,5) 17 It is cooked without butter, superior sort

of dessert (8) 18 Philanthropist, composer and soldier

meeting in church (8) 20 See old lover being hugged — a

provocative lady maybe? (6) 21 Balkan native when uprising gets sharp

weapons (6) 22 Country’s cricketer in team captained by

A Cook (4) 23 Clan that comes when summer turns to

autumn (4)