The Real James Herriot (48 page)
Read The Real James Herriot Online
Authors: Jim Wight
55. The queue waits patiently for the doors of 23 Kirkgate to open
56. The ultimate honour: at Buckingham Palace after receiving the OBE in 1979
57. Simon Ward and Lisa Harrow played James and Helen in the first film. This shows them after their considerably more splendid wedding than the real couple
(right)
had thirty-two years previously
58. In the second film, John Alderton played James Herriot, again opposite Lisa Harrow. Colin Blakely
(right)
played Siegfried
59. Partners in more senses than one: the television actors stand behind their true-life counterparts. Christopher Timothy and James Herriot/Alf Wight; Robert Hardy and Siegfried Farnon/Donald Sinclair, and Peter Davison and Tristan Farnon/Brian Sinclair
60. Alf with Christopher Timothy in the garden of 23 Kirkgate
61. Christopher Timothy with the clapperboard during the filming of an episode of âAll Creatures Great and Small'
62. With granddaughters Zoe and Katrina
63. With Sunderland F. C. fans on King's Cross Station in London
64. After the memorial service at York Minster: the author, Chris Timothy, Joan, Robert Hardy and grand-daughter Emma Page
IF ONLY THEY COULD TALK
Michael Joseph 1970; Pan Books 1973
IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A VET
Michael Joseph 1972; Pan Books 1973
published together in an omnibus volume
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
Michael Joseph 1975; Pan Books 1976
LET SLEEPING VETS LIE
Michael Joseph 1973; Pan Books 1974
VET IN HARNESS
Michael Joseph 1974; Pan Books 1975
published together in an omnibus volume
ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL
Michael Joseph 1976; Pan Books 1978
VETS MIGHT FLY
Michael Joseph 1976; Pan Books 1977
VET IN A SPIN
Michael Joseph 1977; Pan Books 1978
published together in an omnibus volume
ALL THINGS WISE AND WONDERFUL
Michael Joseph 1978; Pan Books 1979
THE LORD GOD MADE THEM ALL
Michael Joseph 1981; Pan Books 1992
EVERY LIVING THING
Michael Joseph 1992; Pan Books 1993
JAMES HERRIOT'S YORKSHIRE
Michael Joseph 1979; Mermaid Books 1982
Other omnibus editions
THE BEST OF JAMES HERRIOT
Michael Joseph in association with Readers Digest Association Ltd 1982
JAMES HERRIOT'S DOG STORIES
Michael Joseph 1986; Pan Books 1992
JAMES HERRIOT'S CAT STORIES
Michael Joseph 1994
JAMES HERRIOT'S FAVOURITE DOG STORIES
Michael Joseph 1995
JAMES HERRIOT'S YORKSHIRE STORIES
Michael Joseph 1997
Books for children
MOSES THE KITTEN
Michael Joseph in association with A & C Black Ltd 1984; Piper Books 1988
ONLY ONE WOOF
Michael Joseph in association with A & C Black Ltd 1985; Piper Books 1988
THE CHRISTMAS DAY KITTEN
Michael Joseph 1986; Piper Books 1988
BONNY'S BIG DAY
Michael Joseph 1987; Piper Books 1989
BLOSSOM COMES HOME
Michael Joseph 1988; Piper Books 1991
THE MARKET SQUARE DOG
Michael Joseph 1989; Piper Books 1991
OSCAR: CAT ABOUT TOWN
Michael Joseph 1990; Piper Books 1992
SMUDGE'S DAY OUT
Michael Joseph 1991; Piper Books 1993
Many people have helped me with the writing of this book. Two I wish to thank especially; they have shown great patience and understanding in enduring the company of an inexperienced and mono-focused author: my wife Gill, and my editor Jenny Dereham. I also wish to express particular thanks to my agent Jacqueline Korn, at David Higham Associates, whose persuasion it was that I should â and could â write this biography.
I am deeply grateful to my mother, and to my sister Rosie, who have not only supplied so much vital information but have been very cooperative and unselfish in agreeing to my sharing so many details of my father's life with his myriad fans.
Two important people who have been a tremendous source of essential material must be especially thanked: my late Grandmother Wight for saving so many letters and other memorabilia of her son, and Alex Taylor, my father's oldest friend, for his informative and entertaining memories of the countless happy hours spent in my father's company.
I am also particularly grateful to Professor Norman Wright, the Dean of the University of Glasgow Veterinary School and his staff; also Ken Cunningham, Head Master of Hillhead High School and his staff: from these I received invaluable help and vital information.
Many others, among them relatives, friends and colleagues of my father, have provided me with anecdotes, photographs and other such important pieces of information that went to make up the final accurate picture of his life. In particular, I would like to thank: Fred Banks, George Bell, Bertram Bosomworth, Jim Chadwick, John Crooks, Arthur Dand, The Lady Dean of Harptree, Piers Dudgeon, Marjorie Eves, Alan Goldsborough, Janet Grey, Ellen Grout, Audrey Hancock, Robert Hardy, Dr Ken Hibbitt, Professor Peter Holmes, Ken Kilvington, R. M. Major, Martha Nettleton, Eve Pette, Dr Alistair Porter, Ossy Sandy, Peter Shaw, Anthea Sinclair, Bob Smith, Joan Snelling, Jimmy Steele, Eddie Straiton, Chris Timothy, Juliana Wadham.
Without the help and willing cooperation of all these people, the completion of this book would not have been possible.
Photographic credits
The author would like to thank his family and friends for providing many of the photographs which appear in this book. In addition, the author acknowledges the following for permission to reproduce photographs. Every effort has been made to contact all copyright holders: the publishers will be glad to make good in future editions any errors or omissions brought to their attention.
Life Magazine
37, 46, 48 and 52;
Daily Express
38 and 49; Fay Godwin 39;
Sunday Express
45; Desmond O'Neill Features 50;
Yorkshire Post
51; Barratts Photo Press 56; D. N. Wilkinson Productions Ltd 60; Ian Cook/
People Weekly
62; Evening Press (York) 64