All Creatures Great and Small

- Season 7

(1990)

Tristan returns to Darrowby after a lengthy absence and James decides to welcome him back in grand style - by playing a practical joke. He has Helen complete a romantic welcome back card and sign it Susie Parker. The last time Tristan saw Susie he was so drunk he couldn't remember if he had proposed to her. With both James and Sigfried now living away, Tristan will be the only occupant of Skeldale House and Sigfried's arranged for a new housekeeper, the widowed Mrs. Alton. Tristan is none too pleased that Sigfried has done this without consulting him but changes his ...

James tries his hand at carpentry, hoping to build a birthday present for Helen. Things aren't working out quite as planned however so he seeks advice from a local cabinet-maker. Tristan accidentally injects newlywed Nat Briggs with an abortion serum and the farmer is now convinced that he will never father any children. Siegfried is convinced that something is seriously wrong with Tristan when he suddenly stops going to the Drovers. .

Tristan takes a sudden interest in the local choir - or more specifically, one of the choir members, Jane Mercer. When she takes an interest in a donkey that is ill-fed, Tristan goes well beyond the call of duty to support her. A visit from Granville Bennett with a sick dog, Persephone, is a pleasure for everyone in the practice. When James finds out that he is to be on his own with Granville for an evening at the pub however, he redoubles his resolve to not over-imbibe. Biggins is still up to his old antics getting the vets out to his farm at all hours but not being ...

James and Siegfried have to deal with the Shadwells whose cattle are seriously ill. Bill Shadwell will soon be retiring and apparently refuses to face facts and the whole situation is causing considerable friction in the Shadwell family. Siegfried has to convince Mr. Grimsdale that his bull requires a operation. Unfortunately, Grimsdale is as concerned about his money as he is about the bull. Tristan is having fun with his latest toy - a cumbersome army surplus metal detector.

Tristan gets a visit from an old school friend, St. John, a bon vivant whom Siegfried took a dislike to long ago. Tristan can't bring himself to tell Siegfried he is staying at Skeldale House and as a result, he must also keep it secret from Mrs. Alton. Mrs. Donovan is again dispensing veterinary advice to all who will listen. Tristan is smitten - yet again - with a lovely client, Rosemary Brocklehurst, who has a sick tortoise.

Everyone in Darrowby is preparing for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Tristan has taken himself off to London to take in the event live. Rosie is to play a princess in the school pageant but has come down with the flu and Jimmy, who is to play the Archbishop, thinks his cloak makes him look like a sissy. James has to treat Wolfie, a dog who appears to live up to his name. Thieves are taking advantage of some of the elderly residents of Darrowby. Siegfried tries his hand at a herbal remedy to treat a sick sheep.

Siegfried gets a visit from his old friend, Stewie Brannan, who is on his way home after attending a conference in London. Stewie is in a bit of a pickle, however as it seems that while at the conference, he drunkenly invited the renowned Professor Norton to dinner. The Professor accepted and now Stewie turns to Siegfried for assistance in hosting the dinner. Bernard Wain is a farmer who is sensitive to bad odors and he has taken up James' suggestion of wearing a handkerchief over his nose when required. This leads to a interesting encounter with the local ...

James says he wants to build a tennis court in the garden. Rosie decides she would like to be a vet and accompanies her dad on his rounds, but James seems less than enthusiastic at the prospect. He doesn't think a large-animal practice is suitable for women and sets about showing Rosie the less appealing side of a being a country vet. Siegfried loses a patient when a cat in his care decides to hitch a ride in traveling salesman's van.

Siegfried treats Captain Crawford's sick horse. The Captain is a newcomer to Darrowby along with his apparently surly son, Hugh. James treats Arnie Braithwaite's dog, who may have diabetes. Dennis Pratt is seriously behind in paying his bills and the vets decide to have another go at him in the hope of getting something on account. Siegfried pays a call on the Hardwickes and again finds himself unable to get home - this time, he seems to have lost his car keys. James and Siegfried treat a badly injured dog.

Siegfried's university friend, Henry Clintock, moves to the area and Siegfried tries to arrange for Ewan Ross, whose veterinary practice is still in decline, to be his regular vet. James and Siegfried agree to care for Tricki Woo when Mrs. Pumphrey is away to France. James panics however when Tricki disappears. James provides advice to a young farmer on the purchase of a flock of sheep.

Tristan is back from helping Stewie Brannon with his practice and is once again in love, this time with Mrs. Pumphrey's attractive niece Angela Mortimer. Angela is best described as morose, never smiling and terribly unhappy owing to a recent broken engagement. He invites her to go on a picnic and then accompany him on a call. Her reaction to a mishap puts him off. Sigfried's family is away and so moves into Skeldale House temporarily. Unfortunately, he also has a broken bone in his foot and Mrs. Alton has him on rations of chicken soup. Mrs. Pumphrey gets James to be...

Tristan is upset when Siegfried criticizes him for sleeping in. Siegfried assumed Tristan was out partying when in fact he had spent most of the night treating a sick cow. Tristan is convinced that Siegfried and James are always giving him the dirty jobs, so he and Siegfried swap rounds for the day. Tristan first call is to treat Mr. Sutcliffe's rather large pig. Siegfried has to deal with Mrs. Clarke, whose lambs are failing. Turns out her own health may not be what it once was. James advises Franco Pedretti, who is hoping to marry but doesn't quite know how to ...

Christmas 1953 is fast approaching but the vets are dealing with their usual assortment of diseased animals and entertaining locals. James is particularly impressed by Frank Gillard's farm. Gillard also keeps racing pigeons, which fellow farmer Mr. Biggins blames for importing foot-and-mouth disease. When Gillard's cattle develop the dreaded disease, he has no choice but to destroy his herd. Tristan buys himself a fancy Daimler coupe but then can't quite pay back the money he borrowed from Siegfried, who gives him until Christmas Day to settle up or he will take ...