Cryptic Crossword

ACROSS

1 Solemn excerpt from clip of ace director (2-5)

5 Flier’s circuit with part of

RAF (7)

9 Concerned team, in a practical sense (7)

10 Employee of mine runs after dog (7)

11 Fire hazard, thus ward off danger (5-4)

12 Frenchman’s expression when making presentation (5)

13 Final acts on board for some in crew (5)

15 In accordance with reality, with or without leading female (9)

17 Change over years, say, in flying instrument (9)

19 It’s repeatedly said to be comforting at that point (5)

22 Group of soldiers having bad time in retreat (5)

23 Unattractive, cold, and innocuous (9)

25 Ugly sight very well concealed in electronic product of mine (7) 26 Train as frantically as one of the top Russians once (7) 27 Characters in front of VW cause depression in learner (7) 28 Like John, Paul or George, isn’t taken in by cunning (7)

DOWN

1 Spirit shown by an MP, tho’ with constituents in disarray (7)

2 Kiss husband in spring – a country pursuit? (3, 4)

3 Stuff in chapter about destiny (5)

4 Rattle male in party with sudden attack (9)

5 Most of fortune I had easily grasped (5)

6 European place to keep wine event with flexible support (4, 5) 7 First subscribe minimally (7) 8 Start overlapping with lots in country (7)

14 Hear poems, in a way, as means of communication (9)

16 A TV screen distorted writer (9)

17 Simple description of Higgins, as Eliza would say (7) 18 US writer, author switching parts without energy (7)

20 Poet’s line, for example, is in French also (7)

21 Religious experience in weird sect, say (7)

23 Conservative and the opposition divided (5)

24 City in which I am upset – is that so? (5)