Cryptic crossword

DOWN:

1 Defect. 2 Nabob. 3 Rout. 4 Fireman. 6 Bleep. 7 Sparingly. 8 Deputise. 11 Dodo. 14 Gene. 15 Go-getting. 16 Hop. 17 Sled. 18 Djibouti. 20 Yale. 21 Own goal. 22 Stakes. 24 Oboes. 26 Rhino. 27 Tsar.

ACROSS

1 King and his valet enter service, showing artistry (11)

9 Exotic begonias I left in container at Nag’s Head (7)

10 Riverside fields relaid occasionally in crops (7)

11 Take advantage of trees, by

the sound of it (3)

12 Increased university in place

Liberal recalled (5,2)

13 Engineers’ code for ‘deep

regret’ (7)

14 European goods, creation by

Faberge (3)

15 Incentive, say, worth its

weight in gold? (5)

17 Nosy student following

rocket launchers (5)

18 Elaborate trap I installed for

forest animal (5)

20 Big horse guards a rare tree

(5)

22 Popular name for bar (3)

24 It secures locks in slowest

part of circuit (7)

25 Acting without a female in

unit (2,5)

26 Firm, quiet officer (3)

27 Chap going round in shabby

suit gives big wave (7)

28 Inspect back-firing chopper

belonging to setter (7)

29 One traipsed all over the

place in distressed state (11)