CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

15 880

Across

6. Cheeky old chum saves one exotic spice from Canterbury, say (14) 9. Sultanate’s leaders in British Isles hiding old letter (6) 10. Trick one with large cat touring America (8) 11. English goods with nuts, energy and contents of shell (3,5) 13. First man in is key (6) 15. Drowsy, barely moving (6) 17. Antiquated carved ebony covering head of gargoyle (6) 19. Race round small bends (6) 20. On phone, woman registers people doing examinations (8) 22. Around noon, firm mends broken slates (8) 24. Celebrated person entertains, say, a multitude (6) 26. Baffling number in unit entitled to drink litres (14)

Down

1. Wartime deterrent and pub craze: dance with nothing on (7,7) 2. Inspect 100 in hospital (4) 3. Skimpy costume? Cycle briefly, wearing one (6) 4. Upset on Palm Sunday, a nun missed singing in church (8) 5. Stirling’s way of operating steamship (4) 7. Demure first lady’s first coat (6) 8. I noted a spread about overseers, as already stated (14) 12. D o a turn with untrustworthy type (5) 14. Gum disease set in extremely early (5) 16. Recall dealing with subscriber (8) 18. Servant girl brought up to support Virginia (6) 21. Claim bewildered legal eagle initially (6) 23. Study temperature to make an impression (4) 25. Dig up large base of tree (4)