CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Is about to present the first name to gain distinction (6)
4 Use a regular payment to keep a valued family servant (8)
9 Two little boys joined forces to act as sponsor (6)
10 A headmaster that’s gone led a worker to take control (8)
12 Head off to take a chance on one going at an easy pace (5)
13 May be of one mind, so can be quite pleasant (9)
14 Have a large mug in an armored vehicle on a road (7)
15 Left a harbour town with a strong drink (4)
19 Try to get leaders here, even as representatives (4)
21 Will the rest, eg, get right away, but show remorse (7)
24 Digs deep, in the main, and reveals hidden objects (7,2)
26 Is fully conscious of a conflict, at the end (5)
27 Seemed to have copied how to bear fruit (8)
28 A small number can be moral, but it’s worthless (2,4)
29 Are tapes, etc, used to help fans watch a match? (8) 30 Brought up, at the end, with a little boy (6)
DOWN
1 Is about to get factories to move shrubs, etc, to new beds (8)
2 Get a small number, thanks to Ben, at the end, to take notice (4,4)
3 The entire auction is organised on a very large scale (9)
5 For example, round tour was no more than a vanity project (3-4)
6 Get up to fight for an increase in pay (5)
7 Close at hand, in the immediate neighbourhood (6)
8 May have to read out something that’s a bit off (6)
11 Come down from on high in some state (4)
16 Devise a grim part at, some stage, as a long, rambling speech (9)
17 May beat soundly, but continue to support a party (8)
18 A special constable finished off. He as on the way up (8)
20 Was a royal staff designed to show one’s appreciation? (7)
21 Censure the top table for being preoccupied (4)
22 Ladies managed to have high standards (6) 23 A football legend took short work into the community (6)
25 One has to make allowance, and admit it’s true (5)