Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight, World Famous Vet and author James Herriot attended Sheffield College on Tuesday, June 16th, to present a Veterinary Nurse Apprentice of the Year award to Rachel Green and to unveil a plaque in their father’s name. Members of Sheffield PDSA also attended.
Rachel, 18, is one of the first veterinary apprentices at the college and is completing her apprenticeship with Springfield Veterinary Group, Crystal Peaks. She earns as she learns, gaining hands-on skills in the workplace and studies for a qualification at The Sheffield College City campus, Granville Road, one-day week.
Rachel said: “I’m so pleased to receive this award. I love working with, and caring for, animals. Each one is different and an individual patient. I’m really enjoying the apprenticeship as I’m learning quickly in a really practical, hands-on way, and I like the fact that no day is the same.”
The award was presented and the plaque unveiled on the James Herriot Room at the College, on behalf of the James Herriot Legacy Fund, based at the World of James Herriot in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
Previously owned by the local council, the World of James Herriot is now a privately operated company whose management has a vision to continually develop it and attract more visitors including the launch of the James Herriot Legacy Fund initiative which aims to provide bursaries for people wishing to enter the animal care world and for whom the James Herriot stories have been an inspiration.
Heather Smith, Principal, The Sheffield College, said: “I’m delighted that the family of the famous vet Alf Wight, who have such strong Yorkshire connections, have named our veterinary nurse training room after him. Animal care and veterinary medicine are highly competitive but the education and training our students receive means they can compete with the best.”
Ian Ashton added: “The James Herriot Statue and Legacy Fund has been developed as a tribute to Alf Wight, author of the books about the life of a country vet, which inspired two films and the long running and immensely popular TV series All Creatures Great and Small. We are delighted to have been able to develop our relationship with Sheffield College and to recognize Rachel’s achievements in the spirit of the James Herriot Legacy Fund initiative.”