Crossword Genius

Secretary follows small female mountain guide (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sherpa

'mountain guide' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'secretary follows small female' is the wordplay.
'secretary' becomes 'pa' (I've seen this in other clues).
'follows' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'female' becomes 'her' (I've seen this before).
's'+'her'='sher'
'pa' put after 'sher' is 'SHERPA'.

(Other definitions for sherpa that I've seen before include "Nepalese mountaineer" , "Such as Tensing_Norgay" , "one to climb mountains maybe" , "Himalayan dweller" , "Himalayan mountain guide" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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