The day the Leeds Civic Hall owls enjoyed a golden makeover

Our photographer Steve Riding joined Kevin Maher as he put gold leaf on the owls at the top Leeds Civic Hall.

The reguilding was part of a £32,000 clean-up of Civic Hall in July 1973. Around £1,100 was being used for gilding.

Mr Maher, said at the time: “The main aim is to restore Civic Hall to its original state. When it was built the owls were gilded with gold leaf, which has worn off over the years.”

The new application of gold leaf was expected to last 10 to 12 years.

Steve Riding recalled: "I was still a trainee and my mind set was to always get the picture needed. But I do not like heights at all and we had to climb ladders and walk along the planks and climb more ladders. I still remember inching my way along I slid one foot and then joined it with the other and slid again, and several times saying that's it I can't go any further.

"I was scared to bits but these people that walk on scaffolding and do these jobs have no fear and eventually I got to the top. The wind blew his hair and it made a really good photo."

Steve added: "Unfortunately in those days everything was black and white. Colour was still years away. The photo would have looked great with the big gold owl and blue sky.

"There are not many people in Leeds who can say they have touched the owls."

The Leeds coat-of-arms contains three owls - these came from the coat-of-arms of Sir John Saville, the first Alderman of Leeds.

Originally from northern France, the Saville family were presented with lands in Yorkshire by William the Conqueror after they supported him during the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

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