As well as appearing on screens in our living rooms, Julian is also the author of a series of books chronicling his life as a rural vet, following in the footsteps of national treasure James Herriot.
Julian’s first book was an autobiography and the writing process was an unexpectedly joyful process for the much-loved Yorkshire vet. He says: ‘I totally fell in love with the storytelling and reminiscing over past times and putting them down on paper – it was like looking back through an old photo album. You get all these memories flooding back and you think about hard times and good things and pivotal moments from your life and career. It wasn’t always easy but when that first book came out with my name on the front, I was like’ wow, this is cool’.’
Since then Julian has continued to put pen to paper and his latest book, entitled ‘New Pastures for a Yorkshire Vet’ has recently been published. It is his 11th book and it recounts the establishment of his veterinary practice in Wetherby which opened in 2019. He has since opened a second practice in Thirsk in 2021.
Bolton Abbey is a favourite winter spot for the Nortons. Image: Getty The writing career has been somewhat of a surprise to Julian as he never felt he had a creative side, having always concentrated on the science side of life. He says: “The writing has totally opened up a side of my brain that I didn’t know existed. As a vet, everything was focused on making a diagnosis, doing the right tests and fixing the problem.
‘I had never really seen any merit in painting a picture or even reading a book. What was the point in that when there wasn’t going to be a cure at the end of it? Then, having started to write books and doing the TV, people would stop me and say they had seen an episode of The Yorkshire Vet and they had been really moved and someone told me they had been reading my book to her Mum who was dying of cancer in hospital. That made me realise there was a merit in doing things that may not have an obvious purpose. It has also shown me that if an opportunity is there then go for it and don’t shirk away from it – anything can happen.’
Julian lives in Sowerby with his wife Anne and two sons Jack and Archie who are now both studying at university. The family is completed by Jack Russell Emmy who is Julian’s constant companion. There is nowhere Julian would rather live. He says: ‘The beauty about where I live is that it is so quiet. I can be out walking for two or three hours and not see anybody. It still feels quite wild and remote to me – we’ve got it all here and it’s hard to beat. We often walk the dog around Gormire and we love to head to the coast for a visit to Runswick Bay.’
The outdoors plays a huge part in Julian’s life. He competed in the 2014 and 2015 European Middle Distance Triathlon and Long Course Duathlon championships and is now a regular sight closer to home as he heads to the hills on his mountain bike.
He says: ‘Every week I go out with a group of mates mountain biking in the evening – we are surrounded by some of the best places in the world for it. We go out to the Hambleton Hills, Kepwick, Carlton, Swainby, Osmotherley or Boltby. We are so lucky to have these places on our doorstep.’
Having been on our screens for almost a decade, Julian is used to being in front of the camera. ‘At first I found it exciting but also stressful because we didn’t know how we would be perceived but as time has gone on it has become easier and it is good fun. It feels quite a privilege to be doing my job with a camera filming knowing that it will be viewed by millions.’
Working between the practices in Thirsk and Wetherby, Julian and colleagues treat everything from alpacas to tortoises and ferrets to goats as well as the dogs and cats that come through the surgery doors. Julian says: “Every day is different and that is the fun of it – you are never sure what you are going to see. The relationship that people have with their pets is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter whether it is a hedgehog, parrot or tortoise – they are all still important to the owner.’
It’s Christmas and New Year season and Julian’s day to day veterinary practice work has meant his festive plans have often been interrupted with call-outs to treat poorly pets and livestock. As Julian says: ‘Animals don’t know it’s Christmas! I have been called out on Christmas Day and many times on New Year’s Eve. I was once called at around 2am on New Year’s Day by a farmer who had obviously been out celebrating. He had returned to his farm and thought one of his cows was in real trouble. I went out and his cow had calved and it was just afterbirth he could see, nothing more sinister. In his drunken state he thought the animal was in danger but it was an easy call-out for me in the end.’
New Pastures for a Yorkshire Vet is available at www.gnbooks.co.uk
