Independent 5751

ACROSS

1 Soldier dead in Italian lake, a raider (8)

6 European, kind of – could be French (6)

9 Man with bequest – he’ll take on the taxmen (4)

10 Well-deserved good name – hurried to secure that (4-6)

11 University in a second study, normally (2,3,5)

12 Himalayan creature still heading for India (4)

13 Drinker returned to work with plants (5)

14 Crossword’s beginning with sad clues, badly written – they lead nowhere (4-2-3)

16 Relaxed line that is backed? Certainly (9)

19 A little kiss by son (5)

21 Engrave back sections of pocket watch (4)

23 Make neater mines, later exploding (10)

25 A tendency to nodding and winking? (10)

26 No-one repelled about King being in club (4)

27 Public show is not held in delightful place (6)

28 Spotted pieces played (8)

DOWN

2 Supervise deliveries to bishop’s office (7)

3 Ugly rumours about editor turning deadly (9)

4 Indian leader in favour henceforth, after uprising (5)

5 See possible future in a rum old novel such as this? (3,6,6)

6 Alarm ,perhaps, raised over the French in Scottish town (7)

7 Truck runs into bird (5)

8 Newly-designed carpets – multi-coloured things (7)

15 Pupil (not first) on sex trips – removal from school ensues (9)

17 Girl allows getting stuck into beer when it’s raised (7)

18 I have to follow the others in becoming unsettled (7)

20 Show sympathy for what organist faces (7)

22 Scavenger longing to tuck into first couple of hartebeest (5)

24 Notice the total here! (5)