James Wight - The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father

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 and could 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 fathers 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 fathers oldest friend, for his informative and entertaining memories of the countless happy hours spent in my fathers 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 credit

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 25, 33, 39; Daily Express 26 and 31; Sunday Express 32; Desmond ONeill Features 34; Barratts Photo Press 40; Ian Cook/People Weekly 41; Evening Press (York) 43

Hannah Bell, Alfs mother

James Henry Wight, Alfs father

The formal family photograph following the wedding of Hannah and James Wight, July 1915. The two young men in uniform in the front row are, left, Alfred Wight, after whom Alf was named and, right, Stan Bell, Hannahs brother; between them are Pops two sisters, Jennie and Ella. Bob and Matt Wight are on either end of the back row; below Bob is Auntie Jinny and her husband, George Wilkins.

Alf on holiday with his parents at Inverbeg by Loch Lomond: one hopes they did not have far to walk.

Alf between Auntie Jinny and his mother and, behind, George, Nan and Stan Wilkins

Alf with Stan Wilkins and hairy friend

With Don as a young puppy

The Glasgow Veterinary College football team. Alf is in the centre row on the left with Bob Smith in fifth position and Eddie Straiton third from right. Aubrey Melville is in the front row, on the far left, predictably with a girl next to him.

The Boys Brigade relaxing on the beach at North Berwick. From left to right: Alf, Eddie Hutchinson, Pete Shaw and Alex Taylor

With his mother in Llandudno, c. 1937

. Alf while he was at Hillhead School

Alf with Donald Sinclair and Eric Parker, in the garden at 23 Kirkgate

In the vegetable garden at 23 Kirkgate

TB Testing in the Yorkshire Dales

A postcard of Kirkgate in Thirsk, looking up to the parish churchand, by coincidence, Alfs car outside the surgery

Alf, in RAF uniform, with his newborn son: February 13, 1943

Joan on the beach at Llandudno, 1951

Pop and Alf with Rosie and Jimmy in the garden at 23 Kirkgate