STARS of the hit TV series All Creatures Great And Small joined friends, family and fans of vet and author Alf Wight for a celebration to mark what would have been his 100th birthday.
The event, at Tennants Auction Rooms, in Leyburn, was compered by TV presenter Harry Gration and featured a three-course dinner and speeches by Mr Wight's children, Rosie Page and Jim Wight, and the actor who played James Herriot in the TV show, Christopher Timothy.
Ms Page told the 350 guests at the dinner, including the chairman of Sunderland AFC Sir Bob Murray, Thirsk TV vets Peter Wright and Julian Norton and fans that had travelled from around the world, that her father would have been bemused about the fuss being made of him, but proud.
Among the highlights of the event were two sets by Yorkshire soprano Lesley Garrett, which included performances of classics, such as Summertime and Moon River.
An auction of Herriot memorabilia, including a copy of one of the Herriot books signed by Mr Wight and the cast of the TV show, raised more than £3,000 towards The James Herriot Foundation Trust, which has been set up by The World of James Herriot, in Thirsk, to provide bursaries for people wishing to become veterinary nurses.
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