James Alfred Wight (James Herriot)

James Alfred Wight, to become known as Alf Wight, (James Herriot) 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. His Father James Henry Wight was a ship plater by trade but also an accomplished pianist and his mother Hannah Bell sang Contralto.

Alf Wight 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,they were devoted to each other. Don had a profound influence on his choice of career. 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 Alf Wight 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 Alf Wight travelled down to Thirsk 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.

In 1941 Alf 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. Alf carried on TB testing cows in Wensleydale. Joan and Alf's first home was on the top floor of 23 Kirkgate.

In 1942 Alf Wight joined the RAF and was away for 12 months before being discharged with poor health.

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

1949 Alf Wight 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 Alf and Joan move to their first house Rowardennan on the outskirts of Thirsk which was their home for the next 25 years.

1965 Alf writes his first book called 'The Art and The Science', 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.

1972 'It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet' is published.

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

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

1973 'Let Sleeping Vets Lie' is published.

1974 ' Vet 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 Alf 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 Alf Wight 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 Alf Wight receives an OBE from the Queen and Honorary Doctorate from Heriot Watt University Edinburgh.

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

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

1982 'The Best of James Herriot' is published and Alf 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 Alf 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 Alf is made Life President of Sunderland Football Club.

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

1993 Alf Wight and Christopher Timothy are given the titles of Honorary Yorkshire men.

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

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

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