Possible Clues:

• Elite; pale yellow
• The best part -of the crop
• Best - substitute for shaving soap
• The best part of Cabell's joke
• Give a shellacking
• Somewhat mediocre, a middling best
• Rock group, comprising Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker
• I am with the people to be seated with Y to a very large extent
• The best swot welcomes start of exams
• A century with sheets of paper is the finest