CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 By getting a fathead out of a

hole (5)

6 Bring on a turn, just in case

(5)

9 Particular fuel mixture for an

automobile (7)

10 A race of carriers (5) 11 Characterised by precipitation (5)

12 General hat material? (5) 13 Wandered off to get the old

violin out (7)

15 One with some scope for law

enforcement (3)

17 Fishy contribution from

Schubert (4)

18 Does it taste like bits of

minced sturgeon? (6)

19 Tale of a Conservative at his

wits’ end (5)

20 Toffs, like that posh fellow

Leslie (6)

22 Quote or mention as something to see (4)

24 In Scotland, it has its

regional side (3)

25 One who argues that a sporting club needs deer around? (7)

26 Set about Ben for taking Joe

in (5)

27 Fifty-four letters for something to eat (5)

28 Person entertained in the

vaguest sense (5)

29 Keep going until finally

dismissed (4,3)

30 That woman will be a hard

case! (5)

31 Quite happy to go wrong, in

my case (5)

DOWN

2 A lively bather may get out

of it (6)

3 A crab’s disturbed by a

beetle! (6)

4 Sadly depleted by 550, let’s

suppose (3)

5 Was informed that it’s tough

out East (5)

6 Could such examination lead

to damnation? (7)

7 Central Asian expression of

sadness (4)

8 Unsuitable place to send

coffee (6)

12 They go round taking

pounds in wagers (5)

13 To read a letter means little

(5)

14 A trying game? (5)

15 A measure of antiquity (5) 16 Great man to run out! (5) 18 Sort of belt for the novice? (5) 19 A number of misguided leavers (7)

21 Stupid new fashion, almost

(6)

22 He made history at the

seaside (6)

23 Can it make you think how

wild a steer can be? (6) 25 There’s a suggestion of

repetition here (5) 26 Inventor; the boxer’s saviour,

perhaps (4)

28 Exudation from leguminous

plants? (3)