Christopher Timothy

The whiff of his friends' farms stood Bala-born actor Christopher Timothy in good stead for his most famous role, as country vet James Herriot. What else does he recall from his Bala roots?

Born:

14 OCT 1940

Place of Birth:

Bala

School:

Shrewsbury Grammar School

Famous For:

Actor, most famously playing the vet James Herriot

I always feel nostalgia for North Wales. Christopher Timothy

Biography:

I was born in Bala in Bryn Tegid, my grandmother's house near the lake. My family are all Welsh - well, there might be a bit of Scots somewhere, but I see myself as a Welshman.

My mother's family were posh Welsh and lived in the big house above the lake. My father's father was the rector of Corwen. My father was a vicar for a time, before leaving to become a BBC announcer.

I lived in Bala until I was five, but then still went back to visit during the holidays. What I remember mostly is having lots of fun. I learnt to swim in Bala lake and we used to go tobogganing down the hill in front of the house. We used to have really thick snow and we'd crash a lot - it was lethal I'm sure, but fantastic fun.

Dylan Thomas once said that he couldn't remember if it snowed for 12 days and 12 nights when he was six, or for six days and six nights when he was 12, but it did seem to snow a lot more in those days!

One of my favourite memories is walking down the high street on a Sunday and hearing the sound of male voice choirs coming out of the many chapels in Bala. One would segway into another, the music would never fade. That's still one of my favourite sounds to this day.

My aunt still lives in the lodge near the big old house in Llanycil and I still have friends there - we keep in touch by Christmas cards and so on. My brother and I took our mother back to Bala when she was 94 - it was a really nostalgic visit.

I don't think Bala has changed. My friend Geoff Williams' dad used to run a garage and, even though it's a Spar now, it still looked the same, there was even the same old petrol sign, etched into the concrete.

We had lunch in the White Lion on a Sunday and as I looked out along the high street, I couldn't see any buildings that had really changed. The shops might be different, but the architecture isn't. It was the same old view, looking up to the station.

I went to boarding school in Shrewsbury and spoke in the standard English accent there, although when I'd go back and visit my friends in Bala I'd speak with a Bala accent. I don't know which was genuine.

I left school with only one O-level and then worked in a shop, but I didn't mind because I always knew I wanted to be an actor. One day my father phoned out of the blue and asked me what I was going to do. I said 'be an actor', so he suggested I get up and doing something about it!

When I got the part of James Herriot in all Creatures Great and Small I could draw upon my friends who were farmers in Bala. The smell of a farmyard is one of my favourite smells, which stood me in good stead for putting my arm up a cow's bum when acting the role of a vet!

I think if I add it all up, I've worked in theatre more than television, though that's how people get to know about you. I don't have any preferences, as long as the work is well-written - I don't enjoy doing rubbish, and I have done a bit in my time!

your comments

stacey Galvin california
Christopher Timothy is a great actor. I was in Thirsk recently and saw the museum there and also appreciate that Mr. Timothy has taken an active role in the remembrance of Alf Wight. I imagine many actors would disassociate themselves from such things and say it was beyond them to do a tribute. I so appreciate that Mr. Timothy has lent a hand in the remembrance of Alf Wight without ego getting in the way, while also maintaining his unique acting ability. The fans adore him for both. What a lovely man.
Fri Aug 28 09:42:17 2009

Michael Schiro, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA
I still enjoy listening to the audiobooks of All Creatures Great and Small read by Christopher Timothy. Also have the complete set of videos of the television series. He and all the other actors did a wonderful job of making the books come to life. In my opinion, this was the best television series ever made, due in large part to Mr. Timothy's brilliant portrayal of James Herriot.
Wed May 20 16:16:19 2009

Coates, Warrgul, Vic Australia
My husband and I enjoy the videos All Creatures Great and Small even today - we too wondered about his limp and what is he doing these days. My husband is from North Wales, Froncysyllte and we have been to Bala.
Wed Feb 11 11:16:35 2009

Brent Jordan,Hemet, California, U.S.A.
I enjoyed Christopher Timothy's exceptional acting, in All Creatures Great and Small. I really like his manner, and style. He is an inspiration to me.
Mon Feb 9 10:14:51 2009

Alan Riley, ex-St Helens, now Belgium
So nice to read about the old times in Bala. I first went to Bala in 1958 when I was around 3. My great grandfather and my grandparents who lived there. They all worked for the local colonel, Mr Price. My grandmother was his cook and great grandfather and grandfather were the gamekeepers. They lived up behind the hall at Pantfynan in a cottage nestled in the woods overlooking the valley where the river runs from the lake. No water or electricity in the house, just candles and fresh water from the well, even the wc was in the woods, just a small shed with a board with a hole in it and a bucket below. Living there was very hard and basic, but very rewarding.
Tue Jan 6 15:03:35 2009

Tom Green Brittany France
How wonderful to read all of these positive comments. I did once meet Timothy very briefly and many years ago. I hail from Corwen where his Grandfather was rector, (well before my time), and there is a fine plaque on the church wall commemorating him. Well done Timothy and thank you for all the inspiration you have given to others by your grace and modesty.
Tue Sep 23 09:31:13 2008

Karn Smale Devon UK
I loved the charm and wonderful yet simple tales of ACG&S, reminiscent of an era gone now. I have read Christopher Timothys' interesting and enlightening biography of his time with ACG&S 'Vet Behind the Ears'and I have enjoyed much of his other work, notably his role in Doctors. To answer Doug Valentines' earlier query; yes, Mr. Timothy did indeed have a most unfortunate and extremely bad accident as early as episode 8 of ACG&S. He was hit by a car during a treasure hunt (no fault of his own) and sustained terrible left femur, collar bone and I think skull fractures. Amazingly (and against all expectation) he was bravely filming again within 6 weeks. I admire this dedication to his work,he graciously offers credit to the team and cast for their support during this time but it could not have been easy. Mr. Timothy is natural, skilled and quintessentially English actor. Even at drama school he achieved the Laurence Olivier award for Best Character performance. One of the finest English actors we have today.
Wed Aug 27 09:30:17 2008

Doug Valentine - Hagerstown, Maryland
Have been watching some PBS of ACG&S from early in the series and noticed that Mr Timothy had a limp. It didn't appear the limp was present earlier. Did he hurt himself while filming the series? Was a double used in the series?
Wed Feb 13 09:46:09 2008

Jack Lloyd, Fladbury, Worcs..
Hi Chris, You and I go back a long way and it's a pleasure to keep in touch with you. Your memories of dear old Bala are so very similar to mine. How extraordinary that Bala should have this 'pull' on those of us fortunate enough to have been born there and to have lived there. There is a certain 'magic' about the place. See you sometime.
Mon Apr 30 09:12:06 2007

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