James Herriot's Yorkshire
Her love of the northern Dales was inspired by her father, Alf Wight OBE author of All Creatures Great and Small, better known by his pen name James Herriot. Now, as YDMT Ambassador, Rosie Page hopes to use the Herriot name to benefit a part of the Dales her father loved.
Rosie at Herriot's Wood in Swaledale
Growing up in Thirsk, Rosie’s love of the Dales, and the outdoors in general, started as a child. When her dad’s busy schedule allowed, Alf would take Rosie and her older brother Jim on picnics and walks in the Dales.
As Rosie explains: “I suppose he gave us the interest in the outdoors in general. I used to press flowers in his big veterinary books, we climbed trees, we’d paddle in the lakes, and we would visit all the local ruined castles and abbeys. He was very good at just enabling us to know and to like things that he thought would be good for us, and the Dales was part of that.”
To this day, Rosie has a deep affection for the northern Dales, particularly the wild, high areas of Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Coverdale. This preference is very much influenced by her father and his fondness for being “in the middle of nowhere”.
Oxnop Ghyll Swaledale by Remco Rog
“The view from Crackpot Hall down the river Swale to Muker was most definitely Dad’s favourite,” Rosie says. “In his book James Herriot’s Yorkshire Dad talks about the first time he fell for the Dales on a journey from Leyburn over Grinton Moor, where suddenly the whole Swale valley opens up in front of you with Reeth and Calver Hill in full view.”
After stumbling upon a sign mentioning our financial support for barn conservation on one of her walks near Crackpot Hall some 20 years ago, Rosie began supporting YDMT as a charity she felt her father would approve of. Rosie felt it appropriate to support projects in the northern Dales because of her father’s affection for the area: “I think it right that any help we give in his name is in those Dales.”
Rosie is still very keen to be able to continue using the Herriot name to do good, as her father did through his books and later through the TV drama.
She is now accustomed to the new series of All Creatures Great and Small, and its place as an adaptation that sits “comfortably and respectfully” alongside the books. Rosie and her brother read scripts for the programme and provide advice to the writers and actors.
“My brother worked with Dad as a vet so he can remember what veterinary practice was like at that time, as well as knowing all the
characters. We both help where we can to make it feel authentic.”
Rosie continued: “You have no idea how many people say that watching All Creatures or reading Dad’s books have helped them through terrible adversities, like bereavement and illness. He has done a huge amount of good through his writings and their adaptations.”
“In my little way what I’m doing with YDMT is using the Herriot name to help the people and to preserve the landscape of an area close to his heart. Using his name and a little bit of his money to help projects of which he would approve wholeheartedly gives me great joy.”
