Across: 1. Sobbed pitifully about initially keeping nothing to go with broomsticks (8) 5. Quietly Dad returns after road accident (6) 9. Dismiss retrospective rule left as safety measure (8) 10. Joined Mr Hughes after college (6) 12. Claim Neil fell over (4) 13. Talking quietly the man’s agent returns inside (10) 15. Top flight of new empire’s wild eagle around river and university (7 6) 19. Character goes to sign up again, finding sanctuary (6 7) 23. Girl with tape of criminal is reckless (10) 25. Tail lad who is prepared to drop ring (4) 28. Happy journalist’s dead inside! (6) 29. Kill horse when cold donkey returns inside (8) 30. Rage when the man chases returning supporters... (6) 31. ...Now the man is first to turn around obstacle to progress (8) Down: 1. Happen to find heartless strange creature in dance (6) 2. Sad song about energy network (5) 3. Four points of information (4) 4. Throw up quietly and cry in ballet (7) 6. 9 get upset about one’s belly button (5) 7. Smash this awful fireplace! (3 6) 8. Stock translation of 2 gets to go round (8) 11. Ruler of top six African reigning leaders (4) 14. That woman is carrying a first-born (4) 15. Girl and boy get old assistance (9) 16. Eggheads surround unknown observer (3) 17. Jane gets sliver of rock in 16 (4) 18. Fixes up favourite small bits (8) 20. Right time for rant! (4) 21. Take one note around Union Place (7) 22. Take action with respect to one death after empty threat (6) 24. Backheel captivates cold old doctor (5) 26. Plants are part of therapeutic activities (5) 27. Took drugs when due to travel around Spithead (4) Solution: BEDKNOBS=MISHAP E=I=E=O===N=I=E FIREWALL=UNITED A=G=S=S=T=I=S=I LIEN=WHISPERING L===H=O=A===N=R ==PREMIERLEAGUE S=A=I==Y==Y=L=E NATURERESERVE== I=R===A=I=E===A PROFLIGATE=SCUT P=N=E=E=U=U=A=T ELATED=MASSACRE T=G=C===T=E=T=N SEETHE=HEADWIND Name: Puzzle 469 Author: by Steve Townsend Annos-Across: 1. BED [K(eeping) N(othing)] OBS (anag Sobbed)(anagrind = pitifully) 5. MI (= M1) SH (= Quietly) AP (= Dad reversed) 9. FIRE (= dismiss) WAL (= rule reversed) L(eft) 10. UNI (= college) TED (Hughes) 12. LIEN (= Neil reversed) 13. W [HIS (= the man's) PER (= agent reversed) ING (= side) 15. PREMIE (anag empire)(anagrind = new) R(iver) LEAG [U(niversity)} E (anag eagle)(anagrind = wild) 19. NATURE (= Character) RE SERVE (= sign up again) 23. PROFLIGATE (anag Girl tape of)(anagrind = criminal) 25. SC(-O)UT (= lad who is prepared) 28. E [LATE (= dead)] D (= journalist) 29. MA [SSA C(old) (= cold donkey reversed)] RE (= horse) 30. SEET (= supporters reversed) HE (= the man) 31. HE (= the man) AD (= Now) WIND (= turn around) Annos-Down: 1. B [E(-L)F (= strange creature)] ALL (= dance) 2. DIRGE [(= E(nergy)GRID (= network reversed)] 3. N(orth) E(ast) W(est) S(outh) (= four points) 4. BOL (= throw reversed) SH (= quietly) OI (= cry) 6. INN [I (= one)] E [anag nine (= 9)](anagrind = get upset) 7. HIT S(anag this)(anagrind = awful) INGLE (= fireplace) 8. P [EDIGR (anag dirge = 2 across)(anagrind = translation) EE (= to go) 11. T(op) S(ix) A(frican) R(eigning) 14. HE [I (= a)] R (= that woman) 15. PAT (= Girl) RON (= boy) AGE (= get old) 16. E(gg) Y (= unknown) E(gg) 17. EY [R(ock)] E (= 16 down) 18. SNIP (= Fixes reversed) PET (= favourite) S(mall) 20. R(ight) AGE (= time) 21. SIT (= Take) U(nion) A (= one) TE (= note) 22. A (= one) T(hrea)T END (= death) 24. LEE [C(old)] H (= heel reversed) 26. CACTI hidden in wordplay 27. U [S(pit)] ED (anag due)(anagrind = to travel) Defs-Across: 1. to go with broomsticks 5. accident 9. safety measure 10. Joined 12. Claim 13. Talking quietly 15. Top flight 19. sanctuary 23. reckless 25. Tail 28. Happy 29. Kill 30. Rage 31. obstacle to progress Defs-Down: 1. Happen 2. Sad song 3. information 4. ballet 6. belly button 7. Smash 8. Stock 11. Ruler 14. first-born 15. assistance 16. observer 17. Jane 18. bits 20. rant 21. Place 22. Take action with respect 24. old doctor 26. Plants 27. Took drugs