Worker and attendant leaving procession (3)
I believe the answer is:
ant
'worker' is the definition.
(worker is a type of ant)
'attendant leaving procession' is the wordplay.
'attendant' becomes 'page' (page is a kind of attendant).
'leaving' is a deletion indicator.
'procession' becomes 'pageant' (I've seen this before).
'pageant' with 'page' taken away is 'ANT'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for ant that I've seen before include "Emmet or pismire" , "Worker on the hill" , "Proverbially hard-working insect" , "One working hard" , "Social worker" .)