Tourist in a spin (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Tourist in a spin

1:07pm Friday 7th May 2010 in News

AN INDONESIAN man has realised his lifelong ambition of visiting Thirsk.

Kuncoro Wastuwibo has been captivated by the town since reading about the exploits of vet James Herriot as a child.

He got the opportunity of flying to Britain and describing his experiences on an internet blog for people back home by winning a competition through airline company AirAsia.

Mr Wastuwibo arrived in Thirsk on Wednesday after visits to London and Cardiff. He said: “It has always been my dream to travel to Thirsk.

“When I was younger my father bought me a book Seandainya Mereka Bisa Bicara – translated into English it means If Only they Could Talk, written by James Herriot.

“Since then I have always wanted to visit Darrowby. It was only a couple of years ago that I realised Herriot was a pseudonym and Darrowby was Thirsk. I think anybody who has read the book would want to come here – the small town with stone and gravel streets, its market place, the wide fields and various shapes of hills, not to mention its unique citizens.

“I have enjoyed walking around Herriot’s town and seeing first-hand the places he described in his books. The World of James Herriot museum was everything I expected and more, very educational.

“Alf Wight, or James Herriot, has been one of the most influential characters in my life.

“Besides introducing me to the music of Wagner, his stories keep me bright and optimistic, it was because of his diary that I started blogging, so this trip is all down to him.”