Ev 1663

[saladdodger]

There may be an extra letter in the wordplay. It's an alphabetical "jigsaw" grid so crossers no use yet...

Instrument performing central parts in concerto (6) C?????

Compose letter descrining female aboard doctor's fishing boat (7) Starts with D or E

Bungles putting Scottish ornaments around saint (6)  L,M or N

[Canary42]

CORNET (anagram of inner letters concerto)

[Neveracrossword]

2 Drifter

3 Messes (Menses are Scottish ornaments).

[saladdodger]

Thank you Canary42 and NACW...how does drifter parse please?

[Neveracrossword]

SD, my notes are rather a mess now. I think it might have been    'write', compose letter,  with f, for female and those are inside, aboard Dr.

[JJ109]

Write (compose letter), W surplus = rite

around F(emale) and DR

= drifter (fishing boat)

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, JJ, I got to the point where I didn't need to track down the extra letters, I could fill the words from what I had!

[saladdodger]

Thank you both...

[JJ109]

I've ony just started it NAC - normally I leave the EV till Monday - but I thought I would at least start it tonight!