Hi Mick,
That second tree is a beautiful tree. It might be nice to maintain that stately look while bringing it down to a more workable level. I’ve pruned a number of similarly sized old tree and in my experience doing it over many years, five or more, slowly, has worked best. I go for not more than a quarter or less a year. The tree seems to handle it better without the stress of a more major cutback that it would need to recover from. It also helps lessen the overwhelming watersprout growth and sunscald on suddenly naked branches. It’s easy to get carried away pruning and forget about the tree!
If you can plan ahead what you want the future tree to be, then just take out one or two large limbs each year, preferably back to as large a branch as you can. Maybe those going straight up, or one that will open up that left side most. Bring it down in height in stages. Look for a large branch to take out to open up instead of cutting a lot of little ones. Leave a lot of the smallest shoots especially on top to help shade. I’ve caused a lot of sunscald by taking too much off all at once. I make a pile as I cut out and look often at the pile and the tree to make sure I don’t overdo it. It’s easier on the tree and on me than trying to tame an overpruned large tree (assuming it lives) in the following years. Plus you’re more likely to continue to get a harvest.
You can certainly lower a large tree but it will in its heart always be a large tree, which means forever pruning. However, it can be worth it if the fruit is fine, and the necessary pruning does get easier down the road. It’s nice your tree look like they are amenable to being wide instead of tall which helps.
I wish you the best with it. It’s challenging but can be so satisfying, and fun! Sue