The Guardian - Cryptic crossword No 24,569 - Dec 11 2008

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Clues Answers
A day before mission, saint given highest promotion, so regal STATUESQUE
A drug man - Grant that's what he was APOTHECARY
African gets the gist with Scotsman NUBIAN
Approach sketch of organ? DRAWNEAR
Assemble again for party (very English) hosted by Frenchman RECONVENE
Birdman? ROOK
City unwilling to wear crimson, offered an alternative? RECLOTHED
Cuisine's blue period? RAREBIT
Energy preserved by fish cutter PARER
Fix a European capital RIGA
Frank, awfully stern admittedly, provoked hostile reaction here HORNETSNEST
Given backing, heavyweight behind strong bid NOTRUMP
Had bishop any more moves? This one from 26 BOHEMIAN
I'm surprised beam retrieved, given length YARDAGE
Island taking moment to pocket penny, which dealer pays COSTPRICE
Clues Answers
Little rods finding little swimmers TADPOLES
Make an arrangement to speak about right case ORCHESTRATE
Natural heat's origin in one's cloud formation UNSCHOOLED
Old Frenchman's almost finished consuming meal - cake GATEAU
Painful marking this military occasion TATTOO
Rule which may rise and fall TENET
See 11 BITES
See 11 THEDUST
See 7 RHAPSODY
She-man? QUEEN
Slugs eaten by William Morris AMMO
Tear-jerker, having captured The King, missing knight's move? This was 26's ONEVISION
The man from UNCLE? PAWN
Try to occupy throne, one's habitude, perhaps, as one of 26's ANOTHERONE
Young bird hears seal CYGNET