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Thanks to twit (#59) for parsing of 40a — that stopped me falling foul of that last-letter trap.
All done now apart from11a. I have parsed the word play and have an entry but I can't see how this fits with the definition (last three words of clue?) Hints gratefully received.

You should get an 8 letter answer from the wordplay that matches the last three words and then you remove a letter

Thanks, CD. I have it now. (Strangely enough, I can't find this word in my Merriam-Webster app!)

In case anyone has been looking for it, there is a copy of the 2008 book "The Listener Crosswords" available for £8 at World of Books

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/derek-arthur/times-the-listener-crosswords/9780550104045

Would anyone be willing to give me a nudge on 20a and 45a?

My grid is otherwise full, although I'm not quite sure I can parse 4d so perhaps this is giving me a second letter in 20a that then doesn't seem to create any word in Chambers.

In 45, I have letters 1,3,5,6 and can make a word from the clue but not one that would be the last two words of the clue. Im guessing a letter comes out, maybe? But perhaps, I've made a mistake elsewhere.

Also, I haven't found an abbreviation! Unless it's 10 down?

Thanks.

Whistler,
20a. Def is 'light red' The patch on the head is waxy. A letter removed from answer
45a. is an anagram, leading to a 7 letter word.

To be more specific, 45a. is an anagram within another word.

Whistler, 4d is a 5-letter word for one taking flight with the initial letters of European route, giving a word which was new to me for "contemptuous individual".
The abbreviation - an acronym - is 39a.

Help please for 26a, I have lots of letters but computer says no word found! Act of compensation from wry girl, one driving cattle with no aspiration. (9).
Also 44a, struggling.
Some brewer's barrel and barley process (7).

Lumen, they are both normal clues.
26a. Is in Chambers. Def is first 3 words.
[girl (4) + 'one driving cattle' minus first letter] all reversed (wry)
44a. Def is 'some brewer', but not alcohol. Abb. for barrel + a word for 'barley process'. A process is an awn.