Something to look out for here, referred to after the clue explanations. Solving time, 21 mins.
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
6 PRECIS LecturE
7 ORRIS Hidden
9 (Guar)DIAN THUS R is editor of the G
10 EASILY Cryptic definition
11 ER (AS) ER
12 TR (A VEST) Y
13 TYRO Hidden
16 DEMUR(e)
18 son’S IRE
19 ENG (END) ER (green)*
21 PE (SET)A Spanish currency replaced by the euro
24 (p)LEASES
25 SABOTEUR (a brute so)*
26 S TOUR
27 SCIENCE (nice sect)* less t
DOWN
1 TEN NIS (sin net)<
2 WI THERE husbanD
3 EELS Alternate letters in ‘here close’
4 NOV ENA
5 T (RUST) EES
6 P (RIO)R
8 SALUTER (us later)*
12 TIMER remit<
14 YAN KEES (seek nay)<
15 OPEN S HOP
17 RE PUBLIC
20 (DISA) RM (said)*
22 SI (T-IN)S
23 TA(U)PE
25 SO-SO (OS)< twice
Perimeter cells read TWENTY YEARS COMPLETED. This refers to the IoS, launched January 1990 with a Quixote puzzle in every issue.
Glad someone noticed (the IoS never would!).
Sounds like congratulations are in order, so well done Quixote. Twenty years is quite an achievement.
I must admit I struggled a bit with the top half here, until the message was spotted. Still I was left with NOVE_A, but perhaps a shade more patience might have got me there!
Almost finished it .What message is there?