 |
|
|
The Real ‘James Herriot’
By Leslie Weddell
Click here if you'd like to exchange critiques
Many readers will recall the wonderful books and television series of “All
Creatures Great and Small” by James Herriot.
But that was not the author’s name, for his real name was James Alfred Wight.
(Apparently he preferred to be addressed as Alf, rather than James.)
As a practising veterinarian surgeon and member of the Royal Veterinary Society,
Alf Wight was not allowed to use his real name as it was seen to be advertising
his work. So Alf used the name ‘James Herriot’ and was allowed to write his
entertaining books about his life as a vet.
James Alfred Wight was born on October 3rd 1916 in Sunderland. His parents,
James and Hannah Wight moved to Glasgow soon after their wedding, but nine
months later Hannah returned to Sunderland to have her baby. When James was only
three weeks old his mother returned to join her husband in Glasgow where he
lived for the next twenty years or so, and because of his broad Glaswegian
accent many people thought he was a born Scot.
He qualified in difficult times in early 1939, and his first position as a vet
was in Sunderland in January 1940. He did not move to Thirsk until July of the
same year.
Alf began writing his books and became an overnight sensation, but he did not
let it go to his head, He still led his normal lifestyle, and was much respected
as a skilled veterinarian surgeon. He was an avid supporter of Sunderland
Football (soccer) Club and loved cricket, music, athletics and tennis. He
married Joan Danbury on the 5th of November 1941 in St. Mary’s Magdalene Church,
Thirsk. They had two children, Jimmy and Rosie. Jimmy followed in his father’s
footsteps and became a veterinary surgeon whilst Rosie became a doctor.
The original surgery was in Kirkgate Thirsk, but was moved in 1997 to purpose
built premises on the Thirsk trading estate. The original building along with an
adjacent one has been turned into the famous ‘World of James Herriot’ centre.
If you have not read any of ‘Herriot’s’ books you really must - for you are in
for a treat!
They are full of humour and portray beautifully the life and times of a vet in
the 1940’s in rural England.
The weather in Yorkshire in winter can resemble Siberia at times, (especially in
the thirties and forties) with biting cold and frozen and slippery country roads
and farm tracks to drive down. And a veterinary practice is on call 24 hours a
day. Being called out at 3am to a cow that has birthing problems is not a
pleasant way to spend the night. In those days cow sheds had no heating, hygiene
was not as it is today, and the poor vet had to strip to the waist in the
freezing cold to make a difficult, and risky delivery without losing the mother.
The farmer would stand by and try to be useful, but often he had little in the
way of amenities for the vet to use apart from a bucket of hot water and a few
towels.
Alf Wight had a long and fruitful life and passed away in 1995, but his
wonderful stories are forever with us for generations to come to be enjoyed by
all.
You can find out more about author Alf Wight by going to google search engine
and entering ‘The World of James Herriot’.
Besides all the books, you can find the television and film series on DVD and
video tapes too.
