In 1966 John Friend announced that he intended to retire in 1967. His deputy was Margaret Dunn but the WRCC had already decided to open a Castleford annexe of the Lady Mabel Ccollege in 1967 with Margaret Dunn as its warden.
The Governors’ minute approving the transfer said it was agreed ‘That on the retirement of Mr Friend the new Principal to be appointed be male and that the Vice Principal be a woman‘ Alyn Davies was appointed to start in 1968.
So John Friend postponed his retirement whilst Daphne Hale, headmistress of Pontefract Grammar School, was identified as the new vice principal and relocated to Bretton (the self-reproducing world of the West Riding!)