Thread 2. To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[AWanderingFool]

Thread Two for The Salt Path and Raynor Winn/Sally Walker/Sally Winn discussions.

Thread One is here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5368194-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

You wouldn't say you admired them 'exactly'? What, to some degree then? Jesus.

I’ve been following the story with interest, but hadn’t read any of the books. Reading that page you posted I think the writing is really bad! And that’s after the editing process. I really dislike that kind of “descriptive” writing that is all cliches and when you actually look more closely it isn’t actually describing anything in a true or evocative way. IMO.

Anyway I had a look for other writings/excerpts by her to see what they were like and came across this - it’s on the penguin website but so badly written and hasn’t even been proofread.

https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/raynor-winn-lockdown-hope

This is aside from the lying accusations but I’m amazed that something I’d assumed was brilliantly written as is generally claimed, is written like this.

<off to write bestselling pile of cak>

Just to catch up, first two from FreeBMD, last from Scotland's People.

Maybe they'll next reinvent themselves as Ronnie and Ann Browne?

1960 - Timothy R Walker, Burton-upon-Trent, mother's m. surname Browne

1962 - Sally A Winn, Melton Mowbray, mother's maiden surname Raynor

1986 - Timothy Ronald Walker & Sally Ann Winn, Portree

I see the comments section has been disabled on “RW’s” insta.

I know. I looked at it yesterday.
But the amount showing doesn't equate to what she could have earned from the books, films, public appearances.

It's possible to have companies in other names where your ID can be disguised.

Also, I think they come across as entitled people who don’t take responsibility for their actions, not criminal masterminds.

Apologies if it's already been mentioned, but I read that the home they have in Cornwall now was gifted to them by someone after reading the book (whether rent free or entirely gift, it didn't say). If true, I wonder how they feel about the revelations in the article.

What I don't understand is why, if they have so many outstanding debts, to the point that there's a stack of CCJs and final demands at their old house, and disgruntled local traders like the car mechanic, why hasn't this come out before? It's been years and their faces have been all over the media.

Even if the names were not the same, surely one of their debtors who knew them personally would have recognised them and said, hang on a minute that person owes me money and they are using a different name. And a journalist or even just someone on social media starts pulling at the thread and it all unravels.

I'll be very interested to read the next installment from the Observer.

Agree.

I didn't enjoy the book and I think she's not a very nice person, deep down.

Sadly I agree with your first paragraph. It wouldn't surprise me to see them now appear with her pushing him in a wheelchair. Look at how nasty people are! In a way I wish The Observer had stayed clear of the medical stuff for now.

I'd like to think he has something, just because the fraud there would be phenomenal. But it can't be both a degenerative disease and something that can show a clear scan after walking. That's just not possible, so there's some sort of scam/fraud going on.

Just place marking. It’s odd how lots of people had doubts but the machinery of the system just ticked on. I come across people like this in real life, entitled, playing on people’s emotions. I suppose it’s a good thing that the majority of people only see the good in everyone.

The Observer wouldn't have gone there unless they were very confident

I know it's hard to believe people can scam to this extent but sadly it happens. Look at Belle Gibson for instance

Isn't she advocating, by inference, the same as going to Lourdes?
Do this and it will cure you?

The issue is it's driven by her perspective and voice. We don't hear his, directly.
He comes over as passive and you do wonder if he's literally a 'silent partner' in it all , with her convincing him that this is the way to go.

A lot (most?) of the creditors would have no idea what they looked like. The people that owed them money were Sally and Tim Walker from Wales.

The French authorities aren't going to be seeing an interview in a magazine or on TV with celebrated author Raynor Winn and think, wait a minute!

Even the garage mechanic who was owed £800 didn't make the connection and had to have it pointed out to him when the film came out.

Lots of people did know in the place they lived, but didn't know how to get the story out, and likely didn't want to risk a barrage of abuse and accusations themselves if they couldn't personally prove everything.

Agree that the lawyers wouldn't have let the Observer publish unless it had been seriously fact checked. They don't want a libel suit on their hands.

Impressed by all the investigative work on this thread!

Given this feature would have been in the making for weeks, or longer, it's a wonder they didn't get it out before the release of the film.

Yep it’s annoying that the Walkers will make money from the movie.

I wonder if people can get a refund in their tickets.

I think they probably wanted to, it would have been perfect timing.

Something may have held it up.

Seen on X 😂

Jesus Fucking Christ, I think what they pulled off was clever and they nearly got away with it. We're all on a fucking thread about them, interested in this story to a greater or lesser extent. Yes, I think they went in bold, I think they have a rare confidence/ arrogance / intelligence / lack of shame / gumption. They have pulled on various levers of the public consciousness, just like Hannah Ingram and many others have too - including poor health, romance, bravery, intrepidness, stiff upper lip British spirit of "so we will walk", the healing power of nature etc.

How you lot have extrapolated that I therefore think tradespeople are lesser people (?!) is bizarre; it must be exhausting to get so very invested in every single bad thing humans do to and against each other. My comment about £800 being stolen from (or more accurately, not paid to) a tradesperson 15 years ago not being particularly interesting to me in the whole intricate web is because all the tradespeople I know have had this happen to them, on multiple occasions... of course it is wrong but it does happen, they insure themselves against it and take steps to reduce it and build the risk of it into their costs. And they VERY rarely get to see the individuals get their comeuppance in such a delicious way.

They are con merchants and like all successful con merchants they are very good and completely prepared to muddle the truth to suit their current agenda. I know someone who many many years ago shared a prison cell with a conman. They would give the conman their cigarette allowance and the con man would go off to trade and come back with lots of goodies and the cigarette allowance untouched!

You can usually 'stop the press' and shoehorn important features in when the timing is right.

The delays may have been from the people they interviewed who needed to be persuaded that it was okay to speak out. They may have wanted a read-through and had concerns, which can take time to iron out.

Maybe this is the end of the Wellness Trend and everyone goes back to taking their meds and stop harassing doctors. There also appears to be an "off grid" trend. One bloke I know is living in his van and making money by busking and another woman I know has gone off to live on a small boat. Not a houseboat, just a boat. Both of them are conspiracy theorists.

As a former book publicist this is my worst nightmare and I’d probably be crying in the loo today if I still worked there.

Thanks for linking to that - I actually quite enjoyed it, despite the cliches. Although the bit about her daughter falling through the roof into a chicken shop and not being able to eat anything for two days was weird. It sounds like an elaborate metaphor for feeling out of place, and doesn’t ring true at all.