Crossword
A prize of £15 in book tokens will be awarded for the first correct solution opened. Solutions must reach Crossword No 4560, Country Life, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 7BF, by
Tuesday, January 8. UK entrants only. ACROSS 1 What an unbusinesslike surgeon may do? (7, 2, 1, 4) 8 Dialect term for part of shoe (6) 9 In the middle of a challenge to joker to hold kiss (7) 10 Ricin isn’t there by its nature
(9) 11 Starts to love swans (5) 12 Diminish casual analyst (6) 14 Paper cuttings I scatter at
font etc (8) 16 Deep-seated that I return to
border dead with joy (8) 19 Point weapon when tight (6) 21 Drop like flies (5) 22 Protect straight replica (9) 24 Dignified at home (7) 25 A little Polish lozenge (6) 26 Maintain losses to distribute
excess (14) 4560 DOWN 2 Spend time to place item in the record (3, 2, 3, 7) 3 Take cent from Christian fellow from east (7) 4 Squares odds (5) 5 Drug small firm is to back endlessly (7) 6 Pardons yet fires (4, 3) 7 Half a dozen ways to be similar (3, 3, 3, 6) 13 Tease child (3) 14 Payment method for fish (3) 15 Not anything reported by
religious worker (3) 17 Discourage to devalue (7) 18 Put into code shambolic entry of loveless cop (7) 20 Circle touting out autoregulation role (7) 23 Terrace laid through participation (5)