The World of James Herriot has welcomed its first visitors after lockdown. Peter Wright, Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet, was on hand with managing director Ian Ashton to welcome the aptly named John and Linda Begin. The couple, from Loughborough, on their first visit to Thirsk, had stayed at Herriot Country Tourism Member Fern Cottage next door to the Centre.
Managing Director Ian Ashton says: “We are very pleased to have the Centre open again. We have done all we can to make visits to the Centre as good as they have always been but there have had to be changes – not least with a new one-way system. With fewer volunteers in the building to guide people, we are encouraging people to keep on the move as much as possible to observe the social distancing restrictions.”
Over the last few weeks, several changes have been made to the centre – there is a new one-way system meaning that all customers now enter through the famous red door and leave via the shop. Timed tickets can be bought on-line and are restricted to 25 an hour – although people can also turn up and pay at the new entrance booth – sited within the museum ‘dining room’. And customers who don’t get the chance to watch the tribute film will be offered a free copy of it.
“It is a difficult time for everyone in this industry but we are pleased to be open again and hope that with the work we have done on the VisitBritain ‘We’re Good to Go’ recognition, people will feel able to come to visit safely,” said Kate Pawlett, centre manager & director. “We had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, many of whom said that have greatly missed us, as we have them, so it’s good to be back even if it is a new way of doing things.”
