Across
1
Seabirds and golfer harassed former WI captain (8,6)
8
Should mean the end of most of the dry season (5)
9
Man-eater with writer in cut (8)
11
Kitchen unfinished on 1588 vessel (7)
12
Cut short a game with partners from all quarters (7)
13
Oil hostilities cut short by mufti’s decree (5)
15
Chess move, by the way (2,7)
17
Contrite traveller coming in, dropping a bit of rubbish (9)
20
Scrap of shelter after half-time (5)
21
Broke right away, left high and dry (7)
23
Short debut in top league (7)
25
Metal pot cooked state tree (8)
26
Children: a bone of contention (5)
27
Fruit from Romanian garden (8,6)
Down
1
Prince with class next to Lamp-post singer (6,6)
2
Drink up at the King’s (5)
3
Sailing Spanish waters, generally (2,3,4)
4
Freedom that’s tolerated – or excess (7)
5
Tanner wastes Palm Sunday taking 24 hours off (3,4)
6
Pipe valley running through Britain (5)
7
Author making way round lake with boy turning up holding hands, at first (5,4)
10
It doesn’t come as much of a blow (6,6)
14
Best of the bunch? (3,6)
16
He may recommend Veuve Cliquot at river to one in ambush? (9)
18
Accountant with car on hilltop (7)
22
Damp smell I detect at first (5)
24
Dramatist featured in Swinburne’s biography, on reflection (5)