Tag: James Herriot

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Russian Language Website Launched and Russian Speaking Coordinator appointed at World of James Herriot

Russian Language Website Launched and Russian Speaking Coordinator appointed at World of James Herriot

As a follow up to a James Herriot Exhibition held at the State Darwin Museum in Moscow, and building on the success and growth of Russian visitors, the ‘World of James Herriot’ has launched a Russian language version of the World of James Herriot website www.jamesherriotrussia.com and appointed an International Marketing and Promotion Coordinator to promote the attraction in the Russian speaking market.

A native Russian speaker, Alfiya Stephenson from Central Asia who now lives in North Yorkshire, has been appointed to raise the profile of the World of James Herriot and Herriot Country in Russian speaking markets.

Alfiya has set about the task of building relationships with tour operators, travel companies, schools and social groups across the Russian speaking world.

Launched to coincide with Alfya’s appointment, the new website is in support of the initiative and intends to deliver the information about the attraction and Herriot Country to Russian speaking visitors.

“Our aim is to open up Herriot Country and it’s many attractions to Herriot fans and others in Russian speaking countries following our successful mission to Moscow.” comments managing director Ian Ashton at the launch of the Russian website, “….it doesn’t seem fair to keep all this wonderful stuff to ourselves” he added.

The new Russian language website highlights the World of James Herriot and many attractions of the North Yorkshire countryside and proposes packages including visits to stately homes, clay pigeon shooting, horse riding, off road driving, visits to traditional pubs and breweries and sampling the many wonderful eateries serving fresh local produce in traditional recipes of Herriot Country.

“Would you believe there has rarely been a year since the 1970s when the Herriot TV programme hasn’t aired in the former Soviet Union” said Alfiya. She went on to explain that there are Herriot fan clubs in Russia who meet to watch and discuss re-runs of the series.   “There is even a school in Russia using the Herriot books to teach English language to children” she said.

Episodes of the programs are available on YouTube with Russian voice overs and subtitles. The new initiative is targeted at Russian commercial tour operators, individuals and families.

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BBC Antiques and Classic Car presenter David Harper’s visit to the World of James Herriot

David Harper at the World of James Herriot

BBC Antiques and Classic Car presenter’s visit to the World of James Herriot

David Harper, BBC TV antiques expert has visited the World of James Herriot to see his featured memorabilia of the Austin7 car that was used in the BBC TV series in the 1070’s and 1980’s and which he has painted a special limited edition of the car.

One of the most memorable scenes in the TV series is the car splashing through a ford in the Yorkshire Dales and the new memorabilia is a reminder of that scene along with the fact that car is on display in the World of James Herriot.

David’s visit follows increasing demand for Heriot memorabilia and the fact that the vet and author has generated a whole new legion of fans through books sales in the USA, Australia, Russia and other countries where the books have been translated. In addition the popularity of Herriot has been boosted by the continuing channel 5 TV Yorkshire Vet series which is based at the modern equivalent of James heriot’s veterinary surgery in Thirsk.

Kate Pawlett, centre manager said: “It still amazes me at the interest and affection that people have for the books about life in rural North Yorkshire and the impression it made on their lives. To have David visit with his personal and occupational interest in all things about the past is a delight and the new range of memorabilia featuring the Austin 7 painting is already proving to be very popular.”

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USA travel agents fact-finding visit to Herriot Country

Jim Wight, son of Alf Wight OBE (James Herriot) welcomed Arthur Small of Virgin Atlantic and six senior travel agents from the USA to Herriot Country and the World of James Herriot. Jim provided a personal guided tour of the World of James Herriot, sharing many anecdotes and true-life situations of the times when the attraction was the original surgery and home of his family.

Paull Tickner, director of Custom GB, whose portfolio of tour ideas includes the Yorkshire Dales and the World of James Herriot, created for Virgin Atlantic’s new routes into Manchester from San Francisco, Boston, Newark and Atlanta, arranged the visit. The group included: Peg Haskins, Viking Travel, Westmont, Illinois; Becky Avery, Carson Travel, Toledo, Ohio; Karen Hancock, McDade Travel, Roanoake, Virginia; Anne Michelle Popeck CTC, Van Zile Travel, Rochester, New York; Linda Sains, LindaleTravel, Asheville, North Carolina and Michelle Busse, Brentwood Travel, St Louis, Missouri.

“This visit is another example of the importance of the World of James Herriot to its world wide audience. We have visitors from all over the world but the USA is without doubt where James Herriot’s books found their greatest popularity. To have welcomed such a high level group of agents in one visit is excellent news for us!“ comments The World of James Herriot managing director, Ian Ashton.

They were enthralled by the visit to the Centre and asked many questions about Alf Wight (James Herriot) and the books he wrote. Managing Director Ian Ashton presented the guests a DVD of the recent 100th Anniversary Dinner for the vet and author, a guidebook about the World of James Herriot and several items of memorabilia as a reminder of their visit.

USA Travel Agents fact-finding trip to Herriot Country
USA Travel Agents fact-finding trip to Herriot Country
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Centenary Anniversary of famous veterinary surgeon and author Alf Wight

Alf Wight (James Herriot) & dog

Centenary Anniversary of famous veterinary surgeon and author Alf Wight OBE FRCVS, (‘James Herriot’) with original cast members of the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ BBC TV series.

When: Saturday 1st October 2016 from 7pm
Where: Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn.

Special guests from the cast of “All Creatures Great & Small” will be attending on Saturday, 1st October 2016 from 7pm at a black tie gala dinner at Tennants Garden Rooms in Leyburn, to celebrate the life and work of the famous vet and author Alf Wight OBE FRCVS (James Herriot) on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Paying tribute to 100 years of the life of Alf Wight will be his son and daughter Jim Wight and Rosie Page plus family members, friends and colleagues.
The evening will include performances by music icon Lesley Garrett CBE and hosted by BBC TV’s Harry Gration MBE.

Alf Wight’s stories, based on his very own experiences of being a young veterinary surgeon who worked amongst the North Yorkshire farming communities, have sold in their millions and have touched readers from all over the world.
Ian Ashton Managing Director of the World of James Herriot said:
“The Alf Wight 100th Anniversary gala dinner will be a fabulous evening and we are delighted that so many of the original cast of All Creatures Great and Small are able to attend. The event will bring together so many family, fans, friends and colleagues of Alf Wight and adds up to a fantastic tribute to a very special man, vet and author.”

Actor Christopher Timothy who played James Herriot is to attend the dinner alongside BAFTA winner Robert Hardy Esq, CBE, FSA (Siegfried Farnon), Peter Davidson, (Tristan Farnon and also the 5th Dr Who), multi award-winning actress Carol Drinkwater (Helen Herriot), Andrea Gibb, who played Deirdre McEwan in Series 4-6 and who is now a BAFTA nominated writer and her latest movie “Swallows and Amazons” has recently set sail into UK cinemas and Ali Lewis who was a local schoolgirl picked for the role of Rosie Herriot in the final series in 1990. Ali had the advantage of knowing the real Rosie, who was her Doctor! Ali has followed in the footsteps of James Herriot and is now an award-winning writer herself.

“To have all the main cast of All Creatures Great and Small together on this wonderful occasion is a real coup and will likely never happen again. The books, films and TV series are THE biggest thing to ever have happened to promote Herriot Country’ including the Dales and Moors of North Yorkshire which have become world renowned.” added Ian Ashton.

A fund-raising silent auction will be held during the evening and proceed will go to the James Herriot Foundation Trust that began with a very generous bequest made to the Friends of the World of James Herriot by the late Mr Thomas Frank Blinks who lived in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, and was a life member of the Friends of the World James Herriot.

Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight, speaking about the Gala evening said: “This is a lovely opportunity to celebrate our father’s legacy and to support the James Herriot Foundation Trust that has been established to help young people who wish to pursue a career dedicated to animal welfare. Our father would be proud to be associated with this initiative and we are delighted that the dinner has been organised and supported by so many friends and colleagues together with the original cast for the tribute to his life and work.”
A limited number of places are still available for the event and can be booked online at bit.ly/HerriotHundred

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James Herriot Locomotive re-dedicated at Kings Cross London

Herriot Pig on a train

A team from The World of James Herriot, Thirsk Tourist Information, Grand Central Rail and Herriot Country Tourism Group descended on Kings Cross London on Wednesday 22nd June for an event to celebrate the author James Herriot (Alf Wight OBE) in his 100th Anniversary Year and to promote his home of Thirsk and Herriot Country for holidays and short breaks.

The James Herriot Locomotive is re-dedicated to the author in a ceremony at Kings Cross Station at 10.30am on Wednesday 22nd June 2016 and an exhibition of Thirsk and Herriot Country in North Yorkshire held on Kings Cross concourse for the whole of the day, including morning and evening commute times.

A giant model pig used as part of the display took some loading onto the train in preparation..