Recall top independent male that's civilised and hard working (8)
I believe the answer is:
diligent
'civilised and hard working' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'recall top independent male' is the wordplay.
'recall' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'top' becomes 'lid' (lid is a kind of top).
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'male' becomes 'gent' (gent is a kind of male).
'lid' backwards is 'dil'.
'dil'+'i'+'gent'='DILIGENT'
'that's' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for diligent that I've seen before include "Steady and hard-working" , "Industrious" , "Steady in application and industry" , "Painstaking - I tingled (anag)" , "Thorough" .)