Across:
8 Is always the last to arrive (FUTURE), as it’s never discussed in history class (FUTURE),
9 Has an appreciation (has an EYE-) for what goes into port (-LINER) (EYELINER) and its make-up (it’s make-up = EYELINER),
10 Dirges from recordings (‘dirges’ from ‘recordings’ = rcon = CORN) taken from The Field by the farmers (CORN),
11 It reminds a (it reminds a) boss (= anagram indicator) (it reminds a = ADMINISTER) to manage (ADMINISTER),
12 Crafty type (art) retires (= reversal indicator) (art = TRA-) from Russian body (Duma) – losing a leader (d) (‘Duma’ losing ‘d’ = -UMA) (TRAUMA) comes as a shock (TRAUMA),
14 The fears (the fears) unravelling (= anagram indicator) (the fears = FEATHERS) in Down (down = FEATHERS),
15 Offended (RUFFLED FEATHERS) by mess up (RUFFLE-) that’s key (music key -D) to 14 across (‘feathers’ = FEATHERS) (RUFFLED FEATHERS),
18 Turns up (= reversal indicator), Sally (sally = raid = DIAR-) got awards at university (firsts = 1STS = -ISTS) (DIARISTS) with a number of writers synonymous with the Daily Record (DIARISTS),
20 Something for someone who won’t be patient at night (DAY BED) in the guest quarters (DAY BED),
22 Phone (MOBILE) in (HOME) (MOBILE HOME) for those looking for temporary accommodation? (MOBILE HOME),
24 Offer (BI-D) includes writing (from the 3Rs = -R-) (BIRD) by Hawk (BIRD),
25 Fool (IMBECILE) of doctor (-MB-) finds vermin (lice) back (= reversal indicator) (lice = -ECIL-) in Ireland (IE = I-E) (IMBECILE),
26 Barman (Senior Counsel = SC = C-S) holds view (view = peer) raised (= reversal indicator) (view/peer = -REEP-) (CREEPS) by snaky types (CREEPS).
Down:
1 What one of those WAGS (wag = joker) is capable of (HUMOUR) will make you laugh (HUMOUR),
2 Snake (TURN) in square (T- square) pot (-URN) (TURN),
3 Knock back (= reversal indicator) beer (ale = -ELA-) with women (-W-) in challenge (D-ARE) (DELAWARE) in America (DELAWARE),
4 No sense in Messenger (no ‘sense’ in ‘messenger’ = mger = GERM) offering the start of an idea (GERM of an idea),
5 Pilots not part of relationship (‘pilots’ not part of ‘relationship’ = reainh = HERNIA) – on a human level, it’s a sign of rupture (HERNIA),
6 Retires (HITS THE HAY) presumably, as the Arabian, for one, goes out? (presumably, as the Arabian horse, for one, goes out/sleeps = HITS THE HAY),
7 Freer (freer) movement (= anagram indicator) (freer = REF-ER) around blunder (-ERR-) (REFERRER) produced by doctor recommending a colleague (REFERRER),
13 Organisation (UN-) absolved (-FORGIVEN) (UNFORGIVEN), not exonerated (UNFORGIVEN),
14 Held leaving Sheffield (‘held’ leaving ‘Sheffield’ = sffie = FIFES) with musical instruments (flutes = FIFES),
16 Trim (t) army group (‘unit’ without ‘t’ = UNI-) on report (-FORM-) for going on bender (-S bend) (UNIFORMS) in the general’s regimental outfits (UNIFORMS),
17 Those in The House (AUDIENCE) listening to The Speaker (AUDIENCE),
19 Take over (STEP IN) State (= homophone indicator) grassland (‘Steppe’ = ‘step’ = (STEP) – it’s the popular thing to do (IN) (STEP IN),
21 Mark’s successor (EURO- successor to German mark) gets Capital Punishment (capital ‘Punishment’ = -P-) for extreme crime (extreme ‘crimE’ = -E) (EUROPE) in our community (EUROPE),
23 To follow orders (OBEY), G-man leaves moneybag (‘G-man’ leaves ‘moneybag’ = oeyb = OBEY),
24 Believers dismiss evils (‘believers’ dismiss ‘evils’ = beer = BEER) of the devil’s buttermilk perhaps (drink / BEER).