Crossword Genius

Parish officer’s a busy one, controlling wayward lad (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

beadle

'parish officer's' is the definition.
(historical term for a parish officer)

'a busy one controlling wayward lad' is the wordplay.
'a busy one' becomes 'bee' (proverbially busy insect).
'controlling' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'wayward' indicates anagramming the letters.
'lad' is an anagram of 'adl'.
'bee' enclosing 'adl' is 'BEADLE'.

(Other definitions for beadle that I've seen before include "As church official" , "Mr Bumble's position in "Oliver Twist"" , "Parish official (hist.)" , "College official" , "College officer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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