Across
14 Old flier with RAF, a combination to invite disaster (4,3,1,4)
15 Act of forming words and meanings by reference to their own sounds (14)
16 The collection of VAT is not straightforward (8,8)
17 No hostility on the golf-course for environmentalists (10)
18 Empty the court before trial between two captains? (5,3,6)
19 Light porters (5-7)
20 Grumbling that one might be found unattractive in the future (11)
21 Poet comforts Ann Turner with his piano pieces (7,8)
24 Salutes the flag for more than passing attainment (7,8)
26 Consequences following an interval of over-indulgence ? (5,7)
28 Very easy to understand in the fortune-teller's sphere (2,5,2,7)
30 Get in trim to deliver new machine under its own power in cross- Channel boat (5,5)
31 Finally dispose of relative in a Greek island (7)
32 Refusal accomplished, the girl will take notice and find a way to give agreement (3,4,4)
33 Having the effect of goodness? (7)
37 Lance-corporal demoted is no tiger (10)
39 Emmenthal factory producing greenery for the house? (5,6,5)
40 What fed-up depositor did when penalised for early withdrawal (4,8)
42 They don't do the successful litigant's name any good! (7,7)
44 God jocularly supplies empty house or bed (8,2,5)
47 Rewritten by Lear - still humorous, as an example (11)
50 No criminal work for unblemished political party (6,6)
51 Emotional type keeps a record of his feelings (14)
52 Side plate put out, with tin-opener for basic food (6,4)
53 First of the pioneers to go back (8,2,6)
54 It's played, following quiet agreement with club, right away (5,9)
55 Woodworker with a sting in his tail (9-3)
Down
1 Assessed type of interference likely when organising one's reception (6-2-5,5)
2 The Doctor's Dilemma? (7,7)
3 A pointless intrigue? (4,6)
4 New rather than old stager as a substitute in Sussex (4,9)
5 Caribbean preserve I put in a tin (8)
6 Part of Europe where there's prohibition inter alla (7)
7 He turned the gun on the man (6)
8 Ascertain the number and simmer down (5,3)
9 You must be pretty sick to be found on it (6,4)
10 Fail to cotton on! (4,3,6)
11 Board gets discourteous, hitting back (16)
12 Reel the pages out in far from florid style (12)
13 Top class papist on Greek vessel produces goods in transit (3,5)
22 Was taken aback and came home first (4,3,6)
23 Go carefully - I see today's squally (4,4,2)
25 Having the intelligence to grasp copper ring must be harmful (7)
26 Clones are, anyway (3,3,4)
27 Way in which bank is running through our capital (12,6)
29 In the final reckoning, when shall we have our cocoa? (2,3,3,2,3,3)
30 Note on a church: 'Popular series of lectures' (5-2)
34 Deliver unbelievable RLS tale, totally edited (4,1,4,5)
35 Union problem causing prolonged irritation (5,4,4)
36 Pretty girls get misspelt letters which are great literature (6,7)
38 Unprepared one could be thrown here (2,3,4,3)
41 Oil experts possibly manipulating their expertise to their own advantage (10)
43 Sounds like everybody repeats - say She sells sea shells (10)
45 Like a tooth of mastodon to identify, buried (8)
46 Unorthodox believer taking in a thousand by magic (8)
48 Have extra cover, to make control certain (8)
49 Disconnect one from Paris with a jerk (7)
51 Sometimes alarming, they can be very attractive (6)