CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No 16,287

FOR your chance to win, solve the crossword to reveal the word reading down the shaded boxes. HOW TO ENTER: Call 0901 293 6233 and leave today’s answer and your details, or TEXT 65700 with the word CRYPTIC, your answer and your name. Texts and calls cost £1 plus standard network charges. Or enter by post by sending completed crossword to Daily Mail Prize Crossword 16,287, PO Box 28, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GF. Please include your name and address. One weekly winner chosen from all correct daily entries received between 00.01 Monday and 23.59 Friday. Postal entries must be date-stamped no later than the following day to qualify. Calls/texts must be received by 23.59; answers change at 00.01. UK residents aged 18+, exc NI. Terms apply, see Page 62.

ACROSS

1 A member of army HQ, I escort a quartet of females about (5,7) 8 Taxi turns back in one minute, dropping off Kelvin (7) 9 Southwest wind veers, veers abruptly (7) 11 Current minister delighted banks, having been removed (10) 12 Succulent plant, all on its own, without a name (4) 14 Use GCE in controversial science to improve races (8) 16 Raise sheep with young

dog (4,2) 17 Architect embraces

success (3) 19 Bad sailors consume excessive energy (6) 21 I propose changing member of school (8) 24 Some remember great

Austrian composer (4) 25 Veins and teeth have deteriorated by this birthday (10) 27 It describes eastern

article found in mine (7) 28 One cries over Arab

lines on map (7) 29 Bring oil and rice to be cooked and hardened (12)

DOWN

1 Choir’s job in New York prison without soprano (7) 2 One gets rid of lots, causing angry EU reaction (10) 3 Initially, frail old boy has to protect ticker (3,5) 4 Promote the New

Forest (6) 5 On way north, ran

into one couple (4) 6 Wrap disc containing rambling novel (7) 7 Sort of permeable tin? Yes and no (12) 10 Expensive contract covering chestnut’s race (12) 13 Berate Robert about money to deliver unwanted fliers (6-4) 15 Drink is brought up

quietly (3) 18 Very tall monarch appears in drawing (8) 20 Twist roots in

ground (7) 22 Well-read student’s

forgotten repeat (7) 23 Alloy wife kept in

safe (6) 26 Film short final part

of 10 (4)