Quiz challenge

[missprim]

Hi, I don't usually post here as I'm rubbish at quizzes so any help will be great.
Sorry there are no letters but all the answers are UK towns and cities.
Some are anagrams, cryptic or just general knowledge.
I've managed to do 16 but there are still nine left to do. TIA.

1) Comic book pilot and Wimbledon champ. (11)
2) There are towels often found here (9)
3) This piggy duo made a dash for freedom (8)
4) A mute special agent? (of radio fame) (9)
5) Soldiers with a spring in their step (5)
6) A heavy ex labour chancellor (10)
7) If you need rebates, look north! (8)
8) Catch a ferry to learn. (5)
9) A city on the Thames in the middle of London. (7)

[sandyRoe]

3 Tamworth.

[sandyRoe]

Biggles wade?

[Wharton]

1 Biggleswade

[grasscarp]

3 Tamworth

[grasscarp]

4 Dumbarton

[Fibonacci]

6) darling + ton - Darlington

[missprim]

Thanks for your answers up to now.
I understand how you have reached the answers except for Tamworth.
Sandy or grasscarp, can you explain to me please?
It's just that my brother is doing this quiz and he might ask me :-)

[sandyRoe]

pigs were being taken to the slaughterhouse in Tamworth. 2 escaped. When they were recaptured a newspaper bought them and placed them in a animal sanctuary

[grasscarp]

The Tamworth two were a couple of pigs who made a dash for freedom
http://www.pighealth.com/reviews/tamworth.htm

[missprim]

Thanks Sandy, I didn't know that.

[missprim]

Thanks grasscarp as well.

[missprim]

Thanks for your answers.
Still stuck on 2) 5) 7) 8) and 9)

[Wharton]

2 Lowestoft (towels + oft)

[bert_h]

9) the Thames in the middle of London is called the POOL, but i can't see what to put in front of it - there are quite a lot of ----POOL towns and cities!

[missprim]

Thanks Wharton.

[Flyhalf]

8 Larne?

[Wharton]

7 If you NEEDREBAtes, look north!

[missprim]

Well done bigjack.
bert I was wondering if 9) could be a place on the Thames i.e Richmond,Henley ?? but I don't know any others as I'm a girl from up North.

[bert_h]

Yes, there are lots of towns and cities on the Thames, but nione of them are in the middle of London! Which is why I thought "Thames in the middle of London" was the cryptic part.

[missprim]

Aberdeen, very clever Wharton.