THE photographs on this page were taken 43 years ago at RAF Lyneham.

The black-robed man who dominates them is Archbishop Makarios, President of Cyprus, who had just fled a coup organised against him by the military cabal which ran Greece at the time.

RAF Lyneham was one of several backdrops against which one of the decade’s most tense political standoffs played out, and whose impact is felt to this day.

Makarios had been a familiar face in British newspapers for many years, having been the driving architect of Cyprus’ independence from British rule.

Various treaties and the fact that Cyprus was a member of the Commonwealth meant that when the coup happened in 1974, the RAF was sent to rescue the president, who was officially recognised as leader.

An Adver reporter and photographer were dispatched to the base.

We said: “President Archbishop Makarios, who fled Cyprus yesterday with the help of the RAF, landed at Lyneham today.

“Earlier yesterday an RAF helicopter had picked up Makarios from Paphos as insurgent forces were closing in on the town. He was flown to Malta.

“The Archbishop is reported to be seeking political asylum in Britain.

“His ultimate destination is believed to be New York, where the Security Council is in emergency session.

“Mr Daniel Ennals, representing the Foreign Office, met the Archbishop on his arrival at Lyneham.

“Britain is still at the centre of frantic diplomatic efforts today to end the Cyprus crisis by putting pressure on the Athens regime to withdraw the 600 Greek officers who are believed to be responsible for launching the coup.”

The President Archbishop spent time in London, in talks with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, before heading for New York and the United Nations.

The Greek officers had control of the whole of Cyprus, but not for long.

Within days Turkey, long unhappy at what it saw as the disadvantages suffered by Turkish Cypriots, invaded the northern part of the island, and Cyprus remains divided.