James Herriot

James Herriot (James Alfred Wight) was born on October 3rd 1916 in Sunderland in the North East of England. When he was just 3 weeks old his parents moved to Glasgow where he grew up. He was an only child. His Father James Henry Wight was a ship plater by trade but also an accomplished pianist and his mother Hannah Bell sang Contralto.

James Herriot went to Yoker Primary School and then onto Hillhead High School. When he was 12 James Herriot got his first dog, a Red Setter named Don and they were devoted to each other. It was also at this time that James read an article in the Meccano Magazine about being a vet that set him on the path to a veterinary profession.

1933 James Herriot went to Glasgow Veterinary College. He was to spend 6 years there. He qualified on 14 December 1939. In January 1940 he travelled south to Sunderland where he was employed for 6 months by J.J.McDowall as a Veterinary Surgeon.

18 July 1940 James Herriot travelled down toThirsk in Yorkshire and to number 23 Kirkgate, where he started working for Donald Sinclair (Siegfried Farnon). In November that year he met Brian Sinclair (Tristan Farnon) who became a life long friend.

1941 In James met Joan Danbury (Helen Alderson)and they were married on November 5th in St Marys Church Thirsk. Donald Sinclair was Best Man. The honeymoon was spent in the Yorkshire Dales staying at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Carperby. James carried on TB testing cows in Wensleydale. Joan and Alf's first home was on the top floor of 23 Kirkgate.

In 1942 James Herriot Joined the RAF and was away for 12 months before being discharged with poor health.

1943 February 13th, James and Helen they had their first child Jim. May 9th 1947 Their second child was born Rosie.

1949 James received a full partnership from Donald Sinclair.

1951 with the Veterinary Practice very busy, the first of many assistants John Crooks, joined the practice.

1953 James and Helen move to there first house Rowardennan on outskirts of Thirsk which was their home for the next 25 years.

1965 James writes his first book called 'The Art and Science' under the pseudonym of J A Walsh, this was not published.

1966 Michael Joseph Ltd published a revised version of his first book under the name James Herriot.

1970 'If Only they could Talk' is published.

1971 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' is published.

1972 the first two books are published in the USA under the tittle ' All Creatures Great and Small'

1973 James travels to America to promote 'All Creatures Great and Small'.

1974 ' Vets in Harness is published.

1975 The film 'All Creatures Great and Small' with Simon Ward playing James and starring Anthony Hopkins as Siegfried is released. This year James is made Honorary member of the British Veterinary Association and he is also honoured by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

1976 'Vets Might Fly' is published. Also this year the sequel film is released called 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' John Alderton played the part of James Herriot.

1977 'Vet in a Spin' is published. Also in this year James Herriot moves from Thirsk to a house in Thirlby called Mirebeck and the BBC buy the rights to televise the James Herriot stories.

1978 In January the first episode of All Creatures Great and Small is shown. The show is instantly popular and reaches viewing figures in excess of 13 million. In total the TV series covered 90 episodes over a 12 year period.

1979 James Herriot receives an OBE from the Queen and Honorary Doctorate from Heriot Watt University Edinburgh.

1980 James stops working full time as a Vet at 23 Kirkgate.

1981 'The Lord God Made Them All' is published and James declares his intention not to write again.

1982 'The Best of James Herriot' is published and James also receives Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and is the first person to receive honorary membership of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

1984 James receives the British Tourist Authority Award for his placement of Yorkshire on the World Map and Honorary Degree of Veterinary Science from the University of Liverpool.

1987 The Humane Society of the United States of America create an annual award in James Herriots name for kindness to animals. 1991 James is made Life President of Sunderland Football Club.

1992 After deciding to return to writing James publishes his last book 'Every Living Thing'.

1993 James Herriot and Christopher Timothy are given the titles of Honorary Yorkshire men.

1995 on 23 February James Herriot dies. The very next day Jim Wight, James Herriot's son attends the opening of the James Herriot Library at Glasgow Veterinary School. October 20

1995 A memorial service is held in York Minster. Over 2000 people attend.

If you have any questions about James Herriot please contact us and we will do are best to help.

Alison Scurrah

Manager