Herriot museum’s 500,000th visitor

Yvonne and Paul Edgar called in to the Thirsk-based World of James Herriot as part of a six-week holiday in the UK. The couple, from Melbourne, are avid Herriot fans and have read all the books about the Dales vet which were written by Alf Wight as well as enjoying the films. They were greeted at the museum by Mr Wight’s son and daughter, Jim and Rosie, who presented them with flowers and champagne before taking a VIP tour. The museum was opened in 1999 as a tribute to the world’s most famous country vet-turned-author. Mr Wight used his experiences while working in the Dales to write the books. After his death in 1995, Hambleton District Council bought and restored the practice with a £1.4m investment.

But the Yorkshire Post revealed last month (AUG) that the attraction had experienced a dramatic downturn in visitors. Just over 8,500 visitors went through the doors of the Kirkgate museum between April and June, compared with 13,000 for the same period in 2010.

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