Member Article

James Herriot Computers for Africa Initiative

Veterinary specialist who travelled through 15 countries to meet James Herriot helps to establish Computers for Africa initiative with The World of James Herriot and James Herriot Foundation Trust at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress, Birmingham.

A team from The World of James Herriot in Thirsk attended the annual British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress at the International Conference Centre and National Indoor Arena in Birmingham in April 2016.

At the event, the World of James Herriot Team members met with 2015-16 president of the BSAVA, Patricia Colville, along with colleagues Gabriel Varga, Director of Business Operations and Strategy North Europe at Zoetis Pharmaceuticals and Sharon Roberts, director of Computers for Africa to announce a strategic alliance to link The World of James Herriot with Computers for Africa.

The new alliance will connect the three organisations in the effort to encourage donations of computers to African countries that has been spearheaded by BSAVA member Gabriel Varga. Gabriel’s links to Herriot go back to the 1980’s when he successfully but illegally travelled through 15 countries from his own, at the time communist country, Slovak Republic, so that he could meet Alf Wight (James Herriot) who was speaking at the BSAVA Annual Congress held at the International Conference Centre in Harrogate that year. “Alf Wight was a regular attendee at the BSAVA Congress and was a past speaker. It is fitting that we are now expanding our activities to help people in Africa through BSAVA and Computers for Africa. When we heard Gabriele’s story it was such an interesting and admirable effort that he made to meet Alf and Computers for Africa is such a worthwhile cause that Alf Wight would have wholeheartedly supported it. This initiative also fits with our aims for the James Herriot Foundation Trust to support the education of veterinary nurses and the many other people inspired to become vets by his books, films and TV series”. comments the World of James Herriot managing director and chairman of the Herriot Country Tourism Group, Ian Ashton.

The World of James Herriot is to become an official collection point for Computers for Africa where businesses and individuals can dispose of unwanted computers at no cost. Donated computers must be in working order and will be reconditioned before being shipped to Africa. Computers for Africa will provide a certificate of data cleansing to the donating business or person to ensure data-protection. The recently launched James Herriot Foundation Trust aims to provide bursaries for veterinary nurses. The Foundation Trust was established in 2015 following the installation of a statue of Alf Wight (James Herriot) in the gardens of the World of James Herriot, Alf Wight’s former home and surgery in Thirsk. Jim Wight and Rosie Page, son and daughter of Alf Wight (James Herriot) are Trustees.

Pictured: (L-R) Sharon Roberts, Computers for Africa; Ian Ashton, World of James Herriot; Patricia Colville, BSAVA 2015-16 President and Gabriele Varga, Zoetis Pharmaceuticals.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Gallery .