No 2540, Sunday, 05 Jul 09

ACROSS
1 - A Sitwell in Brest relaxing after round (6) - {O}{SBERT*}
4 - Argues with husband and son about a weapon (3,5) - {H}{A}{S WORD}{S}
9 - Pair of scarlet women (3) - TWO [T]
10 - Left gown in travelling bag (11) - {PORT}{MANTEAU}
12 - Boredom dispelled - ticket price includes opening of Coward play (7,5) - BEDROOM* FAR{C}E
15 - Produced a further edition in red - Pinter staggered (9) - REPRINTED*
17 - Goodness in an oak’s fruit (5) - ACORN Relation with goodness not clear
18 - Irish in knockout victory in Russian city (5) - {K{IR}O}{V}
19 - Sticking together in creche one built (9) - COHERENCE*
20 - How to describe concert pianists, exceptionally skilful players? (12) - GRANDMASTERS [DD]
24 - Offer of reconciliation made by girl on section (5,6) - OLIVE BRANCH [CD]
25 - Commander heading for Augusta, Georgia (3) - {A}{GA}
26 - Water, alas, made impure (5,3) - ADAMS ALE*
27 - Sailor, on special date, calmed down (6) - {AB}{ATED*}
DOWN
1 - Film from the novel Rocket Boys (7,3) - OCTOBER SKY* The name of the movie is actually the anagram of Rocket Boys
2 - Opening claret first ahead of start of season’s hunting? (5,5) - BLOOD S{PORT} Anno pending
3 - Copy agent runs off initially (5) - {REP}{R}{O}
5 - Farcical NHS drama, meant as a comedy? (4,3,3,3) - ARMS AND THE MAN*
6 - Item of furniture in annexe, one covered by cleaner (4,5) - WING CHA{I}R
7 - Hera’s fabulous mother (4) - RHEA*
8 - Bullet’s from captain’s Luger (4) - SLUG [T]
11 - It enables one to see the other side without changing one’s position (6,7) - REMOTE CONTROL [CD]
13 - Check bar turn (10) - {COUNTER}{ACT}
14 - Dig down by station (10) - {UNDER}{STAND}
16 - Popular French novelist’s introduction to sedate Scottish city (9) - {IN}{VERNES}{S}
21 - A term for an Englishman in India has upset one bishop (5) - {SAH*}{I}{B}
22 - Painter, Ray, ultimately shown in part of India (4) - GO{Y}A
23 - Travel document is required to enter Virginia (4) - V{IS}A