CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Abuse note on musical instrument (7)

5 Utter first statement on mountain top (5)

11 Being formerly staunch, now forbidding

completely (4,4,2,5)

12 Ceremony that leads religious into the

eternal (4)

13 Daily one sits in rocker, say (5)

14 It’s come back to me how to spell (4)

17 Man adopts stout substitute to extreme

position (6)

18 Minor feature of honoured noble lord (7)

20 Foremen fill general staff with fury (7)

22 Skipping coin tax during working hours

(2,4)

24 Posh guy has sweet, but not midweek (4)

25 American buffalo has offspring attracted to

more than one gender (5)

26 Heard to triumph over a Greek character

(4)

29 Open last leg of racecourse on behalf of

protected child (15)

30 It’s found to embrace the rarefield old

medium of space (5)

31 Rock when elderly relative has sex appeal

and energy (7)

Down

2 Assurance of not seeking election to

position: “over my dead body!” (1,4,5,3,2)

3 and 6 Bedtime signal is pre-retirement job

(4,4)

4 Possibly use for 27 and 28 when refreshment

is, they say, ready to drink (3,4)

6 see 3

7 Archaic now, it cheats leap for freedom

(1,5,2,3,4)

8 A warning cry given by user of 27 and 28,

perhaps, in advance (5)

9 Junior transport takes significant lead in

walk-out (6)

10 Greeting cut short and re-written as whole

number (7)

15 Firmed up one taking on Irish politician (5)

16 I believe décor is ruined (5)

19 Self-centred person to get it so wrong (7)

21 Site of Gretna marriage is myth, possibly (6)

22 Reduced irresolute soul? (2,5)

23 Handy composer (5)

27 and 28 Club for Enid Blyton’s famous books

with press (4,4)