WH Crossword

ACROSS

7 Looking forward to a birthday? (9) 8 Was endlessly told to praise highly (5) 10 After ten, wise-sounding better half had the bonescraper (6) 11 Only Tex and I could arrange the cellulose plastic (8) 12 Make an earnest request for a gentle ringing (6) 14 In apoplexy, Len eliminated a hydrocarbon (6) 16 Spindle revolutionised by Alex (4) 17 Spiteful woman at home in the earth (5) 18 Take an inside shot (4) 19 Just the thing to get you into the match! (6) 21 Regret having soldiers shut up (6) 24 As an Italian man could be nominated by him (8) 26 Specialist once according to model (6) 27 Message from hotel expressly included (5) 28 A long axe he removed had several sides (9)

DOWN

1 Daisy’s neat feature (2-3) 2 Male perhaps let up about six times (8) 3 Go without food, the way one might rave about it? (6) 4 Stone animal outside New York (4) 5 A wrong mark on nearly everything to do with the extension of a nerve cell (6) 6 Aunt Colin provoked, it’s always happening (9) 9 It is light yellow and soft in marshy ground (6) 13 Gold unit of illumination first found in Eqypt (5) 15 Church with a cross on top in Devon (9) 17 Got tiddly with French wine — that’s making one’s mark! (6) 18 Unknown character on phone about Greek general (8) 20 After upsetting ink, had food cut (6) 22 Salesman in the money to settle in advance (6) 23 About 480 sheets of the best (5) 25 Wind up during this dance? (4)