The World of James Herriot in Thirsk is based in the former home and surgery of Alf Wight, the vet who wrote as James Herriot.
5. A statue of the world’s most famous vet stands in the attraction’s garden
The 100th Anniversary of Alf Wight’s birth was in 2016 when a statue of the world’s most famous vet was unveiled in the attraction’s garden and a celebratory
black-tie dinner was held, attended by the four actors who played the main parts in the BBC TV series.
They included Carol Drinkwater, Helen Herriot, Peter Davidson, Tristan Farnon, Christopher Timothy, James Herriot and the late Robert Hardy as Siegfried Farnon, marking the first time in 25 years the acting quartet had been together.
6. The World of James Herriot has dedicated a room to The Yorkshire Vet television series
In 2019 an exhibition room about Channel 5 TV’s The Yorkshire Vet, based on the modern Skeldale Veterinary surgery formerly at 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk, was opened. Paul Stead, managing director of Leeds-based Daisybeck Productions and producer of The Yorkshire Vet TV series, explained how Ian Ashton helped him persuade Peter Wright and colleagues to take part in the programme. “It is of course thanks to Alf Wight, the original Yorkshire Vet in whose footsteps we wanted to follow in bringing the modern version of a Yorkshire veterinary practice to the screen. It all fits perfectly with the James Herriot heritage.”
7. One of the rooms within the museum
In 2021 another new exhibition room featuring the new Channel 5 All Creatures Great and Small series was opened by Nicholas Ralph and Rachel Shenton, who star as James Herriot and his screen wife Helen.
The new series has enjoyed much critical acclaim and, after the first two successful series, series three and four have been confirmed to air in late 2022 and in 2023.
The first two series are currently on PBS channel in North America.
8. A room within The World of James Herriot museum
The attraction has seen many awards in its decade including Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Award 2014, VisitEngland Award for Excellence 2015, CPT Coach Friendly Award 2018, Visit York Best Visitor Attraction Award 2019 and Rural Business Award in 2020.
Last year the attraction was selected as among the top ten per cent of attractions in the world by TripAdvisor.