Veterinarian. Literary Figure. Brian Sinclair was the model for the character of Tristan Farnon in the popular series of book by his friend and colleague James Herriot. Born Wallace Brian Sinclair, he entered the Royal Veterinary College at Edinburgh at the age of 17, but transferred to the Glasgow Veterinary College when he flunked his exams. He survived at Glasgow for one year before he retreated to Edinburgh again. During his extended student years, he worked periodically for his older brother, Donald, before finally qualifying in December of 1943 after a very spotty student career. He then served in the Royal Army Veterinarian Corp during the Second World War and was posted to India. After demobilization, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture at Inverness for three years before transferring to Yorkshire where he worked in the diagnostic laboratory in Leeds, eventually becoming head of the Veterinary Investigation Center. He and his wife, Sheila, lived in Harrogate after his retirement in 1977. In 1980, his health began to fail due to a suspected pituitary disorder, but treatment was successful, and he recovered enough to take time to give interviews regarding his alter ego in Herriott's books. He seemed to delight in the notoriety the character of Tristan brought him.
Veterinarian. Literary Figure. Brian Sinclair was the model for the character of Tristan Farnon in the popular series of book by his friend and colleague James Herriot. Born Wallace Brian Sinclair, he entered the Royal Veterinary College at Edinburgh at the age of 17, but transferred to the Glasgow Veterinary College when he flunked his exams. He survived at Glasgow for one year before he retreated to Edinburgh again. During his extended student years, he worked periodically for his older brother, Donald, before finally qualifying in December of 1943 after a very spotty student career. He then served in the Royal Army Veterinarian Corp during the Second World War and was posted to India. After demobilization, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture at Inverness for three years before transferring to Yorkshire where he worked in the diagnostic laboratory in Leeds, eventually becoming head of the Veterinary Investigation Center. He and his wife, Sheila, lived in Harrogate after his retirement in 1977. In 1980, his health began to fail due to a suspected pituitary disorder, but treatment was successful, and he recovered enough to take time to give interviews regarding his alter ego in Herriott's books. He seemed to delight in the notoriety the character of Tristan brought him.
Bio by: Iola
Gravesite Details
funeral was in Harrogate
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Sinclair memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
-
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
-
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
-
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
-
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1962
-
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
