Award-winning attraction, World of James Herriot in Thirsk celebrated its 10th anniversary as a private business in April.
Ian Ashton, managing director of the attraction said: “It’s been a fantastic ten years developing the World of James Herriot into a world-class visitor attraction that welcomes people from all over the world. And it is all thanks to the small team of dedicated people working together here to provide the best experience for visitors to this much-loved former home and surgery of Alf Wight OBE (James Herriot).”
The attraction’s management and staff, the vet and author’s daughter and son, Rosie Page and Jim Wight have been recounting the many highlights of the ten years which, were it not for the interruption by Covid-19, has seen a continuing growth of visitors from around 15,000 in 2012 to 38,000 in 2019.
Hambleton District Council originally set up the attraction in 1999. Since 2012, under the leadership of Ian Ashton, the attraction has been developed further with new exhibits that include two original and restored vintage Austin 7 cars, one from the original film ‘It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet’ starring John Alderton as James Herriot and another from the BBC TV series when Christopher Timothy starred as James Herriot and the late Robert Hardy was the inimitable Siegfried Farnon.
2016 was the 100th Anniversary of Alf Wight’s birth 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 at which the four actors who played the main parts in the BBC TV series attended. Carol Drinkwater, (Helen Herriot) Peter Davidson (Tristan Farnon), Christopher Timothy (James Herriot) and the late Robert Hardy (Siegfried Farnon). It was the first time in 25 years since the quartet had been together.
The attraction has won many awards in its ten-year private ownership including the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Award 2014, VisitEngland Award for Excellence 2015, CPT Coach Friendly Award 2018, VisitYork Best Visitor Attraction Award 2019, Rural Business Award in 2020, and in 2021 the attraction was selected as one of the top 10 per cent of attractions in the world by TripAdvisor.
“To know that the people who visit the World of James Herriot recognise and appreciate the experience that the team here deliver is second to none” adds Ashton. “We have a great team of committed staff and loyal volunteers and these awards help to make all of their efforts worthwhile.”
The attraction is open every day except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Boxing Day and attracts many coach groups, families and a large following of James Herriot fans. It is enjoying much new attention due to Channel 5 TV’s ‘The Yorkshire Vet’ and ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ series.
