This crossword No. 21769 clues and answers were published on Wed 15 Dec 1999 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 21769 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – A river skirts Crosby, a town in England : ABINGDON
5-across – Son strode out when out of his skull : SPACED
9-across – Sovereign introduced to metalworker! That’s a fluke! : FLOUNDER
10-across – Spooks beset people returning from place of entertainment : CINEMA
11-across – Drink tisane brewed by Lawrence : ANISETTE
12-across – Native of seaside resort with no good hotel : BRITON
14-across – City in America canonised in Russia : PETERSBURG
18-across – Companion embraces sweetheart with desire – not as it’s reported : CLOVEHITCH
22-across – It is quite clear the monkey is wearing a hat : LIMPID
23-across – Bob’s making fun of needlework : SMOCKING
24-across – Reptilian soldier turned to university articles : IGUANA
25-across – Writer of note from Fair Isle : CLEMENTI
26-across – The Parisian follows requirement for a sewer : NEEDLE
27-across – The railway in an army camp on an island : BALINESE
All Down Clues and Answers:
1-down – A couple of fellows skate and row : AFFRAY
2-down – It’s incongruous that one club supports another : IRONIC
3-down – A shufti round site of air traffic control centre : GANDER
4-down – Public beneficiary receives a broadcast : OVERTHEAIR
6-down – Plain language written about border flower : PRIMROSE
7-down – Danish king receives ancient request for wood : CHESTNUT
8-down – Water soaking away from bedraggled gardenia : DRAINAGE
13-down – Statesman embraces one and all on the island. That’s sweet : PEACHMELBA
15-down – Kitchen staff gather in Israel : SCULLION
16-down – Rodent roomed with us unfortunately : DORMOUSE
17-down – Iron Age re-settlement looking initially to be from a certain area : REGIONAL
19-down – Tinker takes one kind of food : SCAMPI
20-down – Apron for local tucking into tart : PINNIE
21-down – Brown coal left off fire : IGNITE
This crossword has in total 28 where 14 are across and 14 are down.