The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Cryptic Crossword
Both sets of clues fit both grids
ACROSS
1 Cold meat set before the Queen, then scramble (7) 5 Grieve when poet wakes, say (5) 8 Reign over African river (5) 9 Cecil is removing winter spikes (7) 10 Ten drunk on Chardonnay, perhaps, embrace (7) 11 Message from head of embassy brought with post (5) 12 Hear person tasting drink (6) 14 Artist and arrow maker taking the floor (6) 18 Still have Egyptian leader in desert (5) 20 Such material makes wimp sober (4-3) 22 Occasionally almost devoured newspaper (2,5) 23 Ring put back in woollen kilt (5) 24 Warm the Spanish holiday accommodation (5) 25 General pardon for woman without home (7)
DOWN
1 Do hide put (7) on noisy mammal’s 2 Awful gnats causing worry! (5) 3 Trio rub out dish (7) 4 Stepped up attack around south-east (6) 5 Corn sounds like a puzzle, visually (5) 6 Free ale, shun rum! (7) 7 Alan’s having surgery on his nose? (5)
13 Give up holding up ten or five (7) 15 Kitchen stew to coagulate (7) 16 Payment for residents of Buckingham Palace (7) 17 Place in southern Rhodes, say (6) 18 Put down drink without starting (5) 19 Language in operetta millions speak (5) 21 Doctor, say, has small grounds (5)