No 2563, Sunday 20 Dec 09

Posting from Nagpur
ACROSS
1 - US rock star encountered crossing a lounge (4,4) – {ME{A}T} {LOAF}
5 - Training on first of April, leader of Dambusters took off (4) – {A}{PE}{D}
8 - Crouch down by bed to get large bag (8) – {RUCK}{SACK}
9 - Style, class to a T (6) – {FORM}{A}{T}
11 - Demand made by former partner to behave (5) – {EX}{ACT}
12 - Love playing Chartres in big band (9) – {O}{RCHESTRA*}
14 - Dutch painter depicting seedy boys' home with urchins (10,5) – HIERONYMUS BOSCH* Had to google search this even though it was an anagram
16 - Throughout most of term, terribly strict (4,4,2,5) – {FROM STEM TO*} {STERN}
20 - Terrorise giddy merrymaker (9) – ROISTERER*
21 - Number one cricket club with a hallowed ground (5) – ME{CC}{A} ?
23 - Warm current in lake, one abroad (2,4) – E{L} NINO*
24 - Book, say, with Dickens character causing envy (8) – {B}{EG}{RUDGE}
25 - Lost, excellent fabric (4) – {L}{ACE}
26 - Small ballistic missile, ear-piercing (8) – {S}{TRIDENT}
DOWN
1 - Angry mother describing parking in NE town (7) – MOR{P}ETH* Had to google search this
2 - Bill, artist in African capital (5) – {ACC}{RA}
3 - The Parisian, so hot running in African country (7) – {LE}{SO}{THO*}
4 - Fruit, fish and vegetable retailer, initially (7,4) – {ANCHOVY} {PEA}{R} Result of another google search, never heard of this one

6 - Saw lead choking dog? (7) – P{ROVER}B
7 - Cup of tea? Missed out (9) – DEMITASSE*
10 - Close to tent, spots rubbish (5) – {T}{RASH}
13 - Forge iron bar initially on it (11) – {COUNTER}{FE}{IT}
15 - Moving, English poet to Alabama (9) – {E}{MOTION}{AL}
16 - Warning about onset of thunder (loud) (5) – FOR{T}E
17 - Disappointed, no end, having received a bronze - that's diabolical (7) – {S{A}{TAN}IC(-k)} Not sure of Anno
18 - Warriors will achieve odd reversal in Asia, possibly (7) – SA{MUR<-}AI*
19 - Most closely related are placed in home (7) – NE{ARE}ST
22 - Group of activists worry about introduction of democracy (5) – CA{D}RE


GRID