CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Declining to be past one’s best (4,3,4) 9 Everybody goes round to island (5)

10 Our guests as puzzled by dinosaur (11) 11 Henry, disheartened, followed Victoria to spa (5)

12 Are to speak loudly about distribution (5-3) 14 Soldier back amongst choral members, one of a small body of rulers (8)

15 He should be good at spelling (7) 17 Being successful if only short-lived (7) 20 The man first accepting cupholder to be an ancient Semitic scholar (8) 21 Desperately sore need of one to whom bill is assigned (8)

24 Plump person so rich to begin with (5) 25 New depot’s turnover first, £1,000 for piece of furniture (4-3,4)

26 High-class oil mixed to make dressing (5) 27 Musician might be cheating (2,3,6)

DOWN

2 Privet chiefly disguised weed (5)

3 Fellow in agreement (5)

4 Famous but not at present (8)

5 No shout emanating from Texan city (7) 6 Lass gave freely in the city (3,5) 7 Agreement with one North American on Sunday having instruments (11)

8 Be fair at “Scrabble” (4,3,4) 12 Demonstrate support, keep one’s standard up (4,3,4) 13 Praise a quiet professional cricketer I take on (11)

16 Tenth speaker in orchestral composition (8) 18 Beast coming from one A-road to eat quickly and greedily (8)

19 Furtive action used to remove the salt (7) 22 Performed again some more diddles! (5) 23 Studio hold-up (5)