When I heard the exciting news that the guest speaker was James Herriot (or, more precisely, James Alfred Wight) I altered my plans so that I could stay a bit longer at Sighthill and meet the famous veterinary surgeon turned author. I was keen to relate to him all our personal connections.

I managed to speak to Mr Herriot before the talk. I explained who I was to him and his “minder” son. He kindly acknowledged my chatter.

The talk itself did not go as well as expected. Mr Herriot’s voice was so weak that it just didn’t carry to the audience – probably because he’d been dead for almost twenty years.