CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. PM’s poem included free in Times, oddly (4,8) 8. Judge forgets clubs? Send for more (7) 9. Border stitch that is unusual at first (7) 11. Gradually, author sets type, incorporating lead (4,2,4) 12. Stylish criminal held in custody initially (4) 14. In relief, English CEO dives into sea (8) 16. Very bad tenor managed to maintain tempo (6) 17. Province lost, scoring no goals (3) 19. Consent to back eastern record company (6) 21. Businessman talking to PA perhaps, demanding

ruler? (8) 24. Some paid less, being out of work (4) 25. Very large airplane sadly lacks current energy source (5,5) 27. Is he too selfish, say, to sit elsewhere? (7) 28. Blue berets are keeping Washington in the dark (7) 29. Where pick-up finishes, unofficially? (3,3,6)

Down

1. Priest finished book ‘Honesty is the Best Policy’, say (7) 2. Back is joining gutted Derby team together (4,2,4) 3. Original communist staff said to be good shots (8) 4. Musician turns back to collect pianos (6) 5. Repair hole in unfinished dam (4) 6. Label European article found in hole (7) 7. Question angry former African 21 in river (5-7) 10. Not being regulated, engineer couldn’t enrol (12) 13. Instrument in part exchange for older model (10)

15 620

15. Visited island in two days (3) 18. Tie loose ends around broken guitar (8) 20. Scrap cut green leaves (4,3) 22. Part-time soldiers possibly drank from this (7) 23. Calm those rioting about nothing (6) 26. Handle trainee during strike (4)