Possible Clues:

• Tommy, often disheartened, is to persevere
• Persevere as child protecting grandparent, for one? Right
• Act like a trouper or a trooper?
• Private individual lacking energy to keep going
• Persevere with tool for fusing metal: remove ring and adjust slightly
• Soon idler must be roused to do this?
• Fighter willing to persevere
• Oriel dons, though doddery, keep going
• Don't give up, as veteran runs into youngster
• With no back-up, Tommy has to keep going