CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Vernal verisimilitude may suddenly become active (6,2,4) 8 Given an inner covering made from opaline diamonds (5) 9 Supports speed of move to previous position (9) 11 Strawberry brandy is fare for drunk (6) 12 Peeks in, possibly, with last chance to see dog (8) 14 Birds give the Scots an upheaval (10) 15 Cross dressing as mythical beast? It’s not on (4) 18 David Beckham heard to identify himself with bearded goat and ... (4) 19 ... he generates support with a reptile while ... (10) 21 ... made note to dissect roundworm (8) 23 Decline to play and enjoy the fresh air while resting (3,3) 25 Scored out entry for General Assembly when commissioned (9) 26 Welles’ golden scion (5) 27 Sea urchin you reported lost, being conceited? You’ll never find it (6,2,4)

DOWN

1 A song ripe for reprisal in the Lion City (9) 2 Academy serves up root vegetables (8) 3 Pens for high and mighty people (4) 4 Heart recording seen in US welcome (6,4) 5 The French are buried in Fife town (6) 6 Stone Age tool with strong pigment (5) 7 Critically quizzical look at whisky cocktail (3-9) 10 Rene twisting and spinning about the efficiency of an appliance (6,6) 13 Supported curiosity in east london district (10) 16 Anti-coagulant usually in portion as mixed (3,6) 17 Fizzy drink for farmers invented by Roman conqueror of Britain? (9) 20 Old hand put on right (6) 22 Final novel belonging to me about Christopher Robin’s name (5) 24 A study of Yemen port (4)