New donkey nativity figure arrives

Originally planned for Advent and Christmas in 2010, the almost life-sized figure made by York-based artist Richard Ison has now been delivered and to mark the occasion a “name the donkey” competition has been launched.

The rector of Leeds, Canon Tony Bundock, said: “The first of our near life-size figures, made for us by Richard and dressed by members of our congregation, arrived for Advent and Christmas 2008 with the wise men having been delivered first.

“The figures of the Holy Family arrived a week or so later, with the shepherds being completed just a week or two before Christmas that year. And, of course, the camel arrived in 2009. The sheep and lambs, the calves, the original donkey and the goats have been acquired “off the peg” from arden centres.

“So this is the first Advent, Christmas and Epiphany season for which the new donkey is featured – hence the ‘name the donkey’ competition, at £1 a time, going on at the present time.”

Mr Ison told the senior verger the old donkey reminded him of the character in Shrek and said he could make a better one.