Thread 18: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

Hello all. I've simplified the opening post as I don't think we need to keep reposting all the links, timelines and so on at this stage of proceedings.

The Observer's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
First thread: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet
Links to threads 2-16, the other 20 Observer articles and videos to date, Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement, our timeline and sources can all be accessed in the OP and first few posts of Thread 17: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5403285-thread-17-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse are welcome. It would be helpful to get the background from at least some of the Observer exposé items before posting.
To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. Please do not engage with drive-by scolders who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. We have done amazingly well together for 17 very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

Now three months in, if these threads could wear slogan t-shirts they would be Mark Twain's often misquoted 'The report of my death was an exaggeration'. Applications in writing from correspondents seeking supply parcels of fudge and cider will be tolerated.

Here we are again
Disappointed as can be
All good pals and jolly good company
Strolling round the path
Happy on a spree
All good pals and jolly good company

Never mind the weather, never mind the rain
Now that we're together, whoops we go again!
Whoops, we go again
La-di-da-di-da, la-di-da-di-dee
All good pals and jolly good company

Keep to the path. No saltiness. May the fudge and cider be with you.

I was one of the sceptics that didn't think the Iceland pair were the same as the Thames path couple - but I was convinced by someone putting side by side/close up photos!

What I find strange is that this couple in the photos are ok with the silly accidentally bumping into Sal and Tim x 4 on the Dorset coast path. The last, ;purely coincidental encounter, was when Sal describes walking west - but gets the swannery and Moonfleet in the wrong order - and is chilling in the Ladies' with Ju.

I just had another look at the photos @BeguiledBrandy, that's funny that it was you earlier in the threads, I do remember now:)
I still think they look a bit different, but they are taken years apart and there are so few photos to compare. I don't know if these people are genuine or not, they are highly unlikely to be called Dave and Julie, unless they were going to feature more in the future, not that a real name is necessary in a Raynor Winn publication :)

I think Laurie Hertzl just skim read the NHS letters re Timoth's illness and possibly saw what she wanted to see.

I also spoke to someone, who had been interviewed before, who said there was going to be a BBC podcast.
I understand that BBC podcast is being done without Our Chloe's involvement unfortunately.

I hope the podcast will show some robust investigation, Laurie Hertzl hasn't even been able to get her head around the medical letters, it's most frustrating that people are still being taken in by the whole thing. I agree @DisappointedReader that it is unfortunate if CH has no involvement with the podcast.

Is there anyone close enough to attend the Dulverton Literary Festival next month. It looks as though you can book single talks so no need to attend everything. I’m miles away but if I was closer would love I’d have front row seat to see CH.,

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival 2025 - Visit Dulverton

Thank you for the link @izzywizzyletsgetbizzywynthomas I had a look at images of Dulverton @AgitatedGoose it looks like a really lovely place, I too would be very interested in how it goes for CH. I'm many hours away, but maybe someone is closer.

I was very interested in Laurie Hertzel’s comment that she had been told that On Winter Hill was going to be partly about the rebuilding of the Welsh farm when SW and TW were young marrieds. If OWH was coming out this month, as originally planned, I think I would have had to have had a strong conversation with myself about not putting money in their pockets Vs I really want to read that so I can pick it apart! I wonder if she actually named locations or just was vague like she was with her childhood home.

I wonder if any of the Dulverton Festival will end up on Youtube? Stranger things are. I will undertake to keep an eye out.

Spotted in the lineup 'Trelawnys' Cornwall' by the radio presenter Petroc Trelawny. I can't find out if the illustrator is Angela H but it is certainly more than a nod to the cover art for The Scam Path, IMO.

Trelawny's Cornwall cover is by James Nunn; he's pretty well established in his own right.

Thanks. I was like @Uricon2 - I couldn't find out who is the cover artist. I prefer the other cover of Trelawny's Cornwall - with a wild sea. Is it also James Nunn - I looked on his website and couldn't see either.

'Trelawny's Cornwall' looks up my street so am putting it on my list. I married my late DH in Penzance (we just went away and dragged witnesses in, stayed in Mousehole) The waiters at the place we had dinner that night were all Aussie surfers and absolutely lovely, made it very special.

I think quite a few people have increased sales due to these threads! Not, however, Raymoth.

Mistakes were made. I liked the artwork that headed up this review:

Trelawny’s Cornwall by Petroc Trelawny – Review - On: Yorkshire Magazine

MN charabanc outing to Dulverton for 15/16 Nov?

Apart from CH, loads of interesting talks inc John Cornwell's 'Earth to Earth' about the Winkleigh murders in 1975 (a gruesome but fascinating insight into the agricultural community in North Devon). The local farmers still wouldn't talk about it when I met some of them 40 years later!

MN meet up in the Bridge Inn afterwards for a de-brief?

I'm up for this! Is it all right with everyone if I just stand at the back and glower at the organisers for not inviting me to talk? (I hardly ever get invited to Lit Fests, probably because I write Women's Fiction and we all know that we don't need that sort of person talking, because it's not real literature. Bitter, me?)

This is the book that interviewees complained about the 240 errors.

"the irony of the author winning a prize for "non-fiction" with this book, when it had so many exaggerations and fictional items."

Yes, another one.

The mysterious deaths of three siblings which haunts Devon village to this day | Devon Live

Strangely, I came across another reference to this same case because of Simon Armitage.

I listened to the video you shared of him. I thought he sounds like Ted Hughes reading his poetry. (I then found out they are both from the West Riding).

Ted lived most of his life in rural Devon. He tried very hard to stop 'Earth to Earth' being published. He was a neighbour of the Luxtons.

I didn't know that. It was a shocking and sad story.

I should add that if you ever want to delve into miracles and the paranormal I can heartily recommend John Cornwell's 'Powers of Darkness Powers of Light'.

I'd forgotten TH lived in Devon and didn't know of his proximity to the Luxton tragedy.

SA does sound like TH I think too when reading and I know he's been compared to him because they are from the same area and write extensively about nature. I think Simon has a simpler life rather from what we know, although my old English teacher knew "Ted and Sylvia" when they were all young and was quite robust in his defence.

I think Simon's Laureate poems are better, possibly partly because he's not aiming for friendship with the royal family.

Well, you live and learn. I'd also completely forgotten (if I ever remembered!) that Ted H lived in Devon. He was so Yorkshire in my mind I assumed he'd have returned to that area.

I love the idea of a MN gathering at Dulverton and CH's talk. Way too far from here, unfortunately, but do report back. It sounds a bit cheeky that the Beeb are doing a podcast without her involvement, though. And @Uricon2, The Scam Path is a brilliant renaming 😂

I’m reading Landlines and noticing how many references to losing homes are being shoehorned in. Every other walker seems to have lost their home or be cruelly separated from home, prompting Ray to remember her own lost house (no mention of why it was lost of course!). Her editor obviously thought that was her USP and wanted it in there as much as possible!

I had an interesting conversation about TSP controversy with a friend last night.

I didn't agree with her, but she argued that although SW may have made a few things up in TSP, she did lose her home and has successfully bounced back through her books which deal with important topics such as homelessness and the environment. The importance of her message about the environment and land management over rides her past misdemeanours and it would be a shame if that voice was silenced in the future as there may not have been nearly as many porkies in TWS and LL vs TSP. For me my friend's argument was based on moral relativism which I profoundly disagree with.

Debate and discuss!