cryptic crossword

ACROSS

6 Cheeky old chum saves one exotic spice from Canterbury, say (14)

9 Sultanate’s leaders in British

Isles hiding old letter (6)

10 Trick one with large cat touring America (8)

11 English goods with nuts, energy and contents of shell (3,5)

13 First man in is key (6)

15 Drowsy, barely moving (6)

17 Antiquated carved ebony covering head of gargoyle (6)

19 Race round small bends (6)

20 On phone, woman registers people doing examinations (8)

22 Around noon, firm mends

broken slates (8)

24 Celebrated person entertains, say, a multitude (6)

26 Baffling number in unit entitled to drink litres (14)

DOWN

1 Wartime deterrent and pub craze: dance with nothing on (7,7)

2 Inspect 100 in hospital (4)

3 Skimpy costume? Cycle briefly,

wearing one (6)

4 Upset on Palm Sunday, a nun

missed singing in church (8)

5 Stirling’s way of operating

steamship (4)

7 Demure first lady’s first coat

(6)

8 I noted a spread about overseers, as already stated (14)

12 D o a turn with untrustworthy

type (5)

14 Gum disease set in extremely

early (5)

16 Recall dealing with subscriber (8)

18 Servant girl brought up to

support Virginia (6)

21 Claim bewildered legal eagle

initially (6)

23 Study temperature to make

an impression (4)

25 Dig up large base of tree (4)