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Perfect thanks!

We have them all now thanks. The Barchester reference I found the hardest as I have never read, or even dipped into, Trollope. And although we have BISE for 26d the parsing still escapes us. I actually had BIZE as an optional spelling some time ago, but couldn't parse that either.

Middle of rubber = BB = "BEES", sounds like BISE.

Interesting. I went with WIPE for 26d. It’s a synonym for blow, and the centre of S(WIPE)R, stealer. Rub is a Scottish form of rob. I wasn’t happy that there was no regional indicator.

Thanks buddy, that’s far more satisfying!

Thank you all. I think I can safely say that that was a complete pig, and I do feel in need of a bracer, so Talisker here I come.

Today, a blast from the past, Telegraph 1928.
A champion who did not burn his boats, but bartered them (5)
-A-R- and the only proffering I can make is HARRY, from the musichall days

Purely from Googling it seems to relate to one Bert BARRY, a rower who had to sell his boat to pay his fare home from America

Good googling! That gem was well hidden!

Back to the relative sanity of the Times from the early 70s.
Echo a way to call this business quarter? (4)
C-T- so I have CITY but the parsing eludes me