Possible Clues:

• Lateness
• Takes a meal among sailors, though it causes delay
• School no-no
• Lateness of sailors holding banquets
• The noise of the pitch starts of late
• Topic of a note home, perhaps
• Being late, copper gets back into police box
• Being behind quality, clean up red stains
• This will get you of late
• Delay feasts to be held by sailors