My Friend Diana Piggott recently took her minions Albert and Victoria on an adventure to the land of world famous veterinary surgeon / writer James Herriot. “Mr. Herriot” is my mom’s favourite author and the inspiration for her Urban Tigers series. Here we go…
Where to begin the minions’ story?
When minions Victoria and Albert heard that Diana was planning to visit her old aunt in Yorkshire, they could hardly believe their ears, and started planning to stow away in her luggage. Time for a pilgrimage to that storied country!
They found themselves on a very big airplane, for a very long time, but fortunately knew the right backpack to hide in, and were soon brought out with plenty of reading material for the long flight.
Once in England, trains were the way to travel! Very fast, comfortable trains took them all the way to the old market town of Thirsk, which has seen some changes since the old days…….
Some of the pubs have been there forever, though, and everyone had worked up an appetite on the journey.
After a good, filling pub lunch, it was time to pay our respects. Sadly, “James Herriot”, aka Alf Wight, is no longer with us, and there is quite an extensive museum in the building where he lived and practised veterinary medicine.
We wandered through the old residence, to exhibits on the books, movies and TV shows, and finally many rooms of old veterinary equipment, some of it quite terrifying!
From an upstairs window we could see the church where Dr. Wight and his beloved wife were married.
By all accounts, he seems to have been a lovely man of exceptional qualities, who left us a delightful legacy, both literary and humane.
Feeling very satisfied and warm inside, we all returned to a very cold and wintry Calgary!
All the best,
Diana and the NW Calgary division
Thank you Diana and Minions Albert and Victoria for another great adventure! Mom thanks you too!
Love,
Earl Grey
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LOVED IT. Read a few of the Herriott books, including his picture book. Saw the television series with Christopher Timothy and rest of cast. This adds to the stories. Love the Museum pictures, rather all the pictures.
Thank you Diana and Minions Albert and Victor. I love you.
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Oh, how neat! I loved his books, and just started reading the biography his son wrote about him. What a perfect pilgrimage for Victoria and Albert to make. Thanks!
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I remember reading his books when they first came out and they fortified my love of animals and those that care for them.
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