TIMELINE PART ONE – 1960 to July 2013
With thanks to FurryHappyKittens et al
Please do not quote this post in full!!!
1960
Timothy Ronald Walker born in Burton-upon-Trent Registration District (FreeBMD)
1962
Sally Ann Winn born in Melton Mowbray Registration District (FreeBMD)
Early 1980s
Tim Walker and Sally Winn meet at college (The Salt Path, 2018)
1986
Timothy Ronald Walker, a plasterer from Burton-upon-Trent, and Sally Ann Winn, a clerical officer from Dunstall, marry on Skye. Timothy’s father was a Master Plasterer, and Sally’s a Farm Stockman (Scotland’s People)
c. 1988 – c. 1991
Sally Walker states she worked at the local court in the fines department, worked her way up, then was offered the opportunity to study; she completed two years of a law degree, whilst working full time and having two children, as well as renovating their house, and growing vegetables (Career Interrupted podcast, No money No home No plan…, 19 June 2025)
1980s/90s
Tim Walker an eco-activist according to Sally Walker (Independent, The Salt Path One woman’s journey…, 23 August 2018)
Early 1990s
Sally Walker says Tim invested in a friend’s property portfolio (Raynor Winn website, Sally Walker’s statement, July 2025)
? – 1994
Tim Walker states he was working as Master Plasterer for family business in Staffordshire; wife Sally Walker was a Law Clerk from Gwynedd (BBC Wales North West, The life of a garden, captured 7 September 2004)
1994
Tim Walker says he and Sally left their jobs, sold their house in Staffordshire due to young son wandering into road where they live, and moved to rented house in Criccieth (BBC Wales North West, The life of a garden, captured 7 September 2004)
1994
Walkers bought ‘dilapidated’ Pen y Maes, and Tim, mentioning a botany degree, began volunteering at the National Trust’s Plas yn Rhiw garden (BBC Wales North West, The life of a garden, captured 7 September 2004)
1995
Tim Walker employed as gardener at Plas yn Rhiw (BBC Wales North West, The life of a garden, captured 7 September 2004)
Late 1990s
Ros Hemmings states she met Tim Walker when he was the gardener at Plas yn Rhiw, and she worked in the house there (Observer, The Slow Newscast, The real Salt Path, 29 July 2025)
Early 2000s
Tim Walker was head gardener at Plas yn Rhiw (The Daily Mail, Couple whose memoir inspired hit film, btl comment by Pwhlleli local, 6 July 2025)
c. 2000/02 (date not confirmed as Ros Hemmings unsure of exact date)
Ros Hemmings states Sally Walker told her she had been made redundant from a hotel in Abersoch (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025)
c. 2000/02 (date not confirmed as per above)
Ros Hemmings says Sally Walker began working part time for her husband Martin Hemmings in Pwllheli (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025)
2004
Tim Walker worked at Plas yn Rhiw (BBC Wales North West, The life of a garden, captured 7 September 2004)
2004
Tim Walker, his brother, and their families, photographed by local resident at Village du Dropt property (The Daily Mail, The Salt Path secret, 15 July 2025)
c. 2004
Ros Hemmings states that Tim Walker left his job at Plas yn Rhiw in ‘I think, 2004’ (Observer ‘The Slow Newscast’ podcast, 29 July 2025)
2007
Tim Walker bought the house at Village du Dropt, with a little land. The property was run down but habitable at this time according to a local resident (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025) Pigeonnier owned by his brother (The Daily Mail, The Salt Path secret, 15 July 2025)
c. Easter 2008
Martin and Ros Hemmings discovered potential embezzlement of £9000 (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025)
2008
Sally Walker repayed ‘several thousands’ to the Hemmings (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025) She said Martin Hemmings had lent her the money (Observer ‘The Slow Newscast’ podcast, 29 July 2025)
2008
The Hemmings discovered more serious potential embezzlement of over £60,000, and went to the police (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025); the amount was between £60,000 and £70,000 (Observer ‘The Slow Newscast’ podcast, 29 July 2025)
2008
Sally Walker arrested and bailed, with instructions to return to the police station the following day. She disappeared. (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025) According to a source, her car was apparently found abandoned in Llandudno (The Times, The Salt Path scandal: what Raynor Winn’s former neighbours think, 11 July 2025)
2008
Sally Walker loaned £100,000 at 18% pa by Tim’s relative “James” with house as collateral (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025); Sally Walker says she was loaned £100,000 by “Cooper”, an old friend, at 18% pa with house as collateral (Raynor Winn website, Sally Walker’s statement, July 2025)
2008
Stolen money returned to Martin Hemmings, who dropped the case (Observer, ‘She broke the trust’ video, 6 July 2025); Hemmings agreed to an NDA (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025)
2008/09
“James”’ business went bust (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025)
c. 2009/2010
Loan transferred to two creditors of “James” (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025)
January 2010
Pen y Maes listed for sale for £395,000 (Zoopla)
March 2011
Pen y Maes on the market for £435,000 (Escape to the Country TV show)
2011-14
At least five county court judgements against the Walkers (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025)
March 2012
Gangani Publishing Ltd was set up with Tim Walker as Director and Tim Walker and Sally Walker as joint shareholders (Companies House)
2012
Gangani published How Not to Dal dy Dir by Izzy Wyn-Thomas (Sally Walker). Those who bought the book told they were entered into a prize draw to win a house in Wales‘free from mortgage or any other legal…charge’ (Observer ‘The Slow Newscast’ podcast, 29 July 2025; Gangani Publishing, 2012)
February 2012
Creditors called in the loan, then exceeding £150,000. Judge ordered payment within 12 months or house would be repossessed (Observer, The Salt Path what’s in the book and what The Observer has found, 6 July 2025)
2012
Martin Hemmings died (Observer, The real Salt Path, 5 July 2025)
2013
Sally Walker says they were told by clinicians that Tim ‘probably wouldn’t last two years’ (Independent, The Salt Path One woman’s journey…, 23 August 2018)
2013
Sally Walker says she refunded those who had entered the prize draw (Raynor Winn website, Sally Walker’s statement, July 2025)
June 2013
Pen y Maes repossessed (The Salt Path, 2018); The Walkers left under cover of darkness according to a local farmer (The Times, The Salt Path scandal: what Raynor Winn’s former neighbours think, 11 July 2025); The Walkers hid under the stairs as the bailiffs arrived (The Salt Path, 2018)
July 2013
Gangani Publishing Ltd dissolved (Companies House)
Please do not quote this post in full!!!