CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 1. It’s an agreement one has to grow smaller (8) 4. Non-metallic mineral piece of wood on board (4) 8. Aries would spoil it being put back (3) 9. Around 3rd November make it better not to go straight (5) 10. At first light, topless, show a beard (3) 11. Sign over one’s red discomfiture (7) 12. Is taken behind mechanically now, to put it differently (2,3) 13. Nose around the top of the garden, if one is so watchful (2,4,5) 17. Heavenly body company came across (5) 18. Forbidding a card to pull a face (7) 20. A melody one may make public (3) 21. A carafe-top one swirls with a lot of water (5) 22. It’s published, but it’s not fashionable now (3) 23. Water given to girl in Lotus (4) 24. Tie confused the entry, but it’s all there (8)

Down 1. Transport operative for a former President (6) 2. Is cited as having a calling (5) 3. Bad language, use of which may be compounded with credit (5) 5. Spread it all over with mixture of pastel, right? (7) 6. Competition won, erroneously returning a bit of fame (6) 7. Complete turn-around the Americans had in 1776 (10) 9. Cairo not on 7 for this year of 1952 here (10) 14. Number, or half of it suffering real change (7) 15. Hasty note from last of swimmers on his stroke (6) 16. No Mayfair wives attempt to find room in church (6) 18. Olive doesn’t have the experience (5) 19. One is after a novice behind the wheel who’s unaccompanied (5)