CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Pieces crank removed from research centre (7,4) 9 Partly predictable proclamation (5) 10 Sane when thinking on Conservative lines? (5-6) 11 Encourage to proceed faster (3,2) 12 Bird in boat travelling in the country (8) 14 One moving out found a rocky hill unusually grim to start with (8) 15 No ice developed in Middle East during this epoch (7) 17 Mountain girl takes a breather (7) 20 Promise to reserve volume (8) 21 Record range (8) 24 Drive away salesman the French rejected (5) 25 Feeling of anger in the country when about to use a spade (11) 26 Cads might be downtrodden (5) 27 One makes advances with interest (11)

DOWN 2 Capital firm about to broadcast (5) 3 Spirit of those recycling (5) 4 Be intent, say, mixing a gin for organised course of action (8) 5 Biro, it’s an assumed appellation (3,4) 6 Dish found by bird at anchor first (8) 7 Credited another part of regular payment (6,5) 8 Stop Herbert troubling relative (11) 12 Culpable to find fault with notability (11) 13 Compositor’s mistake, chart about to be brought up (11) 16 Clot affected some limb (8) 18 Small harpsichord that’ s pure (8) 19 British weather, oriental country !(7) 22 Take a seat at home and protest (3,2) 23 Ethel opened part of bolt (5)