CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

6 Fast short man accompanies woman, a dish (6,8) 9 Graduates surround old black tree (6) 10 Person representing Georgia breaking strike (8) 11 Tease bishop in prison game (8) 13 Bob hoards sentimental stuff that’s useless (2,4) 15 Go and hunt

wild duck (6) 17 Veto two articles, one out of hand? (6) 19 George is happily entertaining foreign hostess (6) 20 Intelligent engineer on trial keeping active (8) 22 Glorify ladies twirling in immaculate frills (8) 24 Plastic beer bottles

at a discount (6) 26 Panther gets let out? You must be brave (5,3,6)

DOWN

1 Lad with square drone enraged senior pilot (8,6) 2 Head off to scale branch (4) 3 Dread annoying a bishop missing sabbath (6) 4 Big island spare in ME country abandoned by Yankee (3,5) 5 Group’s gaining, but not in Italy (4) 7 Figures in this book guided German (6) 8 Lots stand for this country guy on the motorway (8,6) 12 Royal Horse Guards music (5) 14 Gulls usually and not ospreys primarily leave this (5) 16 Bulb in yacht exploded approaching harbour (8) 18 Border standstill reported (6) 21 Artist and woodworker (6) 23 Part of church, perhaps English to some extent (4) 25 Very little data available in presbytery (4)