Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1 Ornate sceptre that’s shown to

elders (7)

5 Old writer’s copy appears in

Kent, say (6)

9 Bang in space reveals source

of light (3,4)

10 Old cure for malaria, one of

five in Spain (7)

11 Second person in 7 out of

bounds (3)

12 Prince ordered broadcast about EC to be taped in advance (11)

13 American tucked into his

exotic fish (5)

14 H onours not seen to be

spread over personnel (9)

16 A brasive engineer appears to defend new department (9)

17 Redhead leaves, grabs pants

(5)

19 Finished drink indoors with one partner the worse for wear (11)

22 Oddly crude signal (3)

23 American ship in south not

hard to find (4,3)

24 Unplaced? No, we’ve overtaken that woman … (7)

26 … when about to finish climb

(6)

27 Continue series of films (5,2)

DOWN

1 Return to former state, leaving

behind king (7)

2 For IT workers, awfully nasty

mess lasts over year (7,8)

3 Queen Anne’s first time (3)

4 Start to thrust with sword in

tent (5)

5 Appropriate clairvoyant limits

search (9)

6 Greek character traps popular

animal (5)

7 Nationwide, for example, it should be government policy (8,7)

8 Rough edges surround hole in

rock cavities (6)

12 Make neat border very soft

on the outside (5)

14 Times breaks record getting

checked and dispatched (9)

15 Falsify papers for firm (5)

16 Somehow miss gripping poster for Marquis’ preference (6)

18 Ambassador (British) spotted

going round speakeasy (7)

20 Under pressure, Archbishop

of York mounts inquiry (5)

21 First note in scale transposed

into C (5)

25 Result of bitter uprising? (3)