CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Hard-working stalwart determined to be faithful (9) 6 Small party returned to South America to find a soft wood (5) 9 Manage to retain right to some land (7) 10 A new opportunity to explore the cosmos (2,5) 11 Thick part of a wooden set on stage (5) 12 Worked out why one was troubled (9) 13 May well make progress, like a school principal (5) 14 One caring about displaying lack of knowledge (9) 17 Fuss over Navy men, at last, getting decoration (9) 19 Find a new place to make a contribution (5) 21 Did some pipers eat up a canape? (9) 24 Odds on a 50-50 chance, ironically (5) 26 Use a court martial to get rid of a bank teller (7) 27 See idle characters forced to find shelter (7) 28 Did a church officer head off a “joinerupper”? (5) 29 Historical vessel might flourish across the Pond (9)
DOWN 1 Went out with time to deliver, at the start (5) 2 Trip round ancient city, might once have led to confinement (7) 3 Girl got new boy. Just the right type, maybe (9) 4 Can get cross, at the end, when bearing fruit (9) 5 Have the ambition to start out, of course (5) 6 Put some graduates in charge. That’s fundamental (5) 7 Might a close working relationship lead to romance? (7) 8 Counter-proposal can change some pieces, at last (9) 13 Is a large snowdrop a symbol of a major collapse? (9) 15 Did North American model turn to a massmeeting. Normally, he would (9) 16 After getting a lift, man will cause a lot of trouble (5,4) 18 Declared after making short work, but didn’t agree with it (7) 20 We had viper trained up for a sneak peek on show (7) 22 He makes an effort to get to a German town (5) 23 Told to make a sharp exit, taking some original stuff (5) 25 Direct a good man always following on (5)