Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 25/05/13

ACROSS

1 Virginia gives allowance to homeless person (7)

5 Bush British talk aimlessly about (7)

9 Said to disguise manner of saying farewell (11)

10 Salt in the mustard (3)

11 Frank met leadership faltering (6-7)

14 Lots of paper said to be from French city (6)

16 Out at elbows during act of conferring distinction (8)

18 Dawn behind a church lamp (3-5)

19 South Carolina colleague backed monster (6)

21 Notices here report of shooting (8,5)

24 Craftily hiding astern (3)

25 Striking like some musicians who are impudently confident (4,2,5)

26 In the act, was free to have treated with contempt (7)

27 Growing children may be found here where plants are grown (7)

DOWN

1 Long live the Spanish (4)

2 Farmer’s leg is injured (5)

3 Reminder from assistant with unfinished autobiography starting excitement (4-7)

4 Nail used on the French equipment (6)

5 Wretch took second boat (8)

6 Lady included in the banns (3)

7 Drier at the bowl replaced (4-5)

8 Money used on both sides of the Atlantic? (4-6)

12 Replacing heat gun compartment in this room? (11)

13 Barber Dad turned round inside and found baker’s working surface (10)

15 Belt up perhaps (9)

17 Excited seeing brook entering the Dee, say (8)

20 Get former pupil in army first (6)

22 Circumnavigator had duck as his mate (5)

23 Is extremely panicky during game (1-3)

25 Shoot companion (3)

Friday’s solution

Across: 1 Back seat, 5 Gasped, 10 Amplest, 11 Plastic, 12 Truer, 13 Secretary, 14 Medical adviser, 17 Right first time, 21 Outnumber, 23 Rabbi, 24 Insulin, 25 In a flap, 26 Sit-ins, 27 Repoussé.

Down: 1 Boasts, 2 Capsule, 3 Spearmint, 4 Anti-static band, 6 Abate, 7 Pitmans, 8 Dockyard, 9 Special service, 15 Vettriano, 16 Priories, 18 Gets set, 19 Mobiles, 20 Hippie, 22 Uhlan.