All the pictures featured in this week’s Retro page were taken in 1972.
We’ve stepped back in time to the year when Edward Heath was Prime Minister, The Godfather was released - and Ripon Cathedral celebrate its 1,300th anniversary.
It was also the year Max Faircliffe retired - he had asked for a donkey as a gift, but when he arrived for the presentation he saw double. F. A. Riely-Smith, director, said at the time: “There was some money left over from Max’s pals’ contributions so we decided to add to it and give him another donkey as a companion for the first one.”
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It was also the year Max Faircliffe retired - he had asked for a donkey as a gift, but when he arrived for the presentation he saw double. F. A. Riely-Smith, director, said at the time: “There was some money left over from Max’s pals’ contributions so we decided to add to it and give him another donkey as a companion for the first one.”
5. RIPON
Ripon, 15th May 1972 The scene in Ripon Cathedral during the dress rehearsal of Benjamin Britten's opera, "Noye's Fludde", part of the cathedral's 1,300th anniversary festival. Schoolchildren in animal costumes are crowded into the Ark, which is built round the ornate pulpit. Noye (Noah) played by Patrick McGuigan, uses the pulpit as the Ark's bridge. Nearly 300 children from seven schools in Ripon have been busy, either rehearsing for the opera or making costumes for it. The Ark has been built by Mr. John Chambers and sixth form pupils at Ripon Grammar School and designed by Timothy Proud. Animal costumes have been designed by Mr. Anthony Smith, of Ripon Grammar School. The orchestra is headed by the West Riding String Quartet. Mrs. Noye is played by Caroline Crawshaw. The conductor is Mr. Paul Shepherd of Leeds, and the producer in Miss Olive Hunter.
6. CARDINAL B. ALFRINK
Ripon, 6th August 1972 Cardinal B. Alfrink, Archbishop of Utrecht walking in the procession from Ripon Town Hall to the Cathedral where he took part in the Ecumenical Service as part of the 1300th Anniversary Celebrations.