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Sorry, malone, my post crossed yours and rather ruined your intention....

AB, that's ok - and I've done the same myself!

Sorry about that! Here is the clue:
6A: Thoroughfares more important than Norfolk waterways, apparently ( 6, hyphened )
A????S

Norfolk waterways would b B ROADS, so A ROADS are more important.

Thanks, chrise!

Some more help with the following, please:
ACROSS:
17 Cake with a bit of icing authorized at first for Athenian assembly(8) : EC???SI? ( ECCLESIA ? )
36 US film star with odd bits of cigar in stomach(6)
???RA? ( THORAX ? )
39 Caesar's man with gamebird(5): ?U?EO
( BUTEO ? )
DOWN:
7 Fraternity supplied goods(5): O??E?
12 Midge's following ancient Briton to cinema(8)
P?C???E?
27 Run from awful phone company (7, hyphened)
?E????P
33 Clown accepted drink(5) : ?O??A ( VODKA ? )

Hi

Ecclesia is right (eccles is the cake)

Film star is a famous woman in the 70s

Caesar- the answer is a bird- first three letters are latin for man

Fraternity- is a word they shout in the House of Commons!

Cinema- Midge Ure is the person referred to

Drink- non alcoholic often at bedtime - 4 letter word for clown +a

Run- is the thing that certain birds are kept in

Thanks for the comprehensive hints which have been very helpful! Now, just want to verify a few before I continue: 23a -COUNCIL, 38a ELECTOR, 15d - THAMES, 20d - SCHISM, 19d - COMMANDERY

15d SHAKES (across clue is repass not repast)
19d COMMONER
All the theme words can be preceded by "great"

15 Down is SNAKES, rather than Shakes (The former's in Brewer's, the latter isn't).