Thread 21 : To feel disappointed - and now disgusted too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 20 IS FULL

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?

Thread 18: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5422393-thread-18-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 19: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5437058-thread-19-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 20: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5454438-thread-20-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 and ploppers 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. Over 5 months we have done amazingly well together for 20 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.

Keep to the path. No saltiness. Our Cardboard Mascot Our Simon has had his head stuck back on and is wearing a very fetching tinsel boa. The charabanc is bedecked with fairy lights and very well stocked up. May the seasonal fudge and mulled cider be with you one and all. 🎅🌲🎁❄️🎄

These threads are the gifts that keep on giving:
New:

• Salt Path: A Very British Scandal, available from Monday 15th December Sky Documentaries and NOW TV
• ‘Don’t look for the money. I’ve taken it all’: Salt Path author Raynor Winn’s ‘confession’ that she stole from her family | The Observer

Up and coming:

• Observer Newsroom: The Real Salt Path Story, Thursday 8th January 2026 6.30-7.30pm. More information and to book via this link observer.co.uk/our-events/the-real-salt-path-story
• Podcast series from The Observer's award-winning Investigative Journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou
• BBC Documentary (NB Not involving Our Chloe)

*MNHQ correcting above 'Documentary' to 'Podcast' at request of author

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 20 IS FULL

Does it seem weird to anyone else, given that there’s all these threads on here about this woman’s fraud, that MN are still promoting the book?!

Looks like there have been competing edits in the last few days on the Wikipedia page regarding "Raynor Winn", including various editors wanting Observer reports to be more (or less) prominent. (But I may be misunderstanding, as I don't find the site's edit histories easy to follow.)

It does seem weird @XGiveMeStrengthX, the problem seems to be that Mumsnet needs advertisers, PRH have taken advertising space on the threads, as far as we know the advertising was bought and paid for before the scandal broke. The advertising will continue for the agreed and contracted period (which must still be ongoing) this hasn't been confirmed with Mumsnet, but is logical, I don't think PRH would be putting any money into promoting TSP at the moment, they would be focusing on promoting OWH, if their intention is to publish.

PRH will have bought chunks of online advertising on various platforms which is clearly ongoing in the case of Mn.

Happy New Year all fellow charabanc travellers and wishing you a happy and healthy 2026!

Thanks for the good wishes for the Correspondent. He's not 100% out of the woods yet, but first batch of tests have at least come back clear, which is a good thing. He's a bit bald in places after various biopsies etc but much brighter than he was, so that's all positive too.

V much looking forward to hearing what people think of the event on 8 Jan. I can't make the time, curses, but will be interested to hear any new snippets.

And @Vroomfondleswaistcoat , you're magnificent when you're angry, m'dear 😉

Very good news about our Wild Pooing Correspondent! I hope he continues in his recovery.

And whilst not magnificent, I like to imagine myself as Joyce Grenfell in her 'Stately as a Galleon' phase. I actually suspect that I'm more like Gollum in his 'My Preciousssss' era.

ha ha ha I would suggest Samuel L Jackson in his righteous rage in Pulp Fiction. Anyway, I'm right beside you on the Bench of Rage when I read more terrible prose so rant on as much as you like.

So pleased to hear that the wild pooing correspondent is on the mend @TonstantWeader, good wishes for 2026 :)
I'm interested to hear what is discussed at the CH event too, I am hoping those attending, can update us all.
I too rather enjoy your righteous anger @Vroomfondleswaistcoat, wasn't Joyce Grenfell wonderful, you could also channel Joan Sanderson, she gave such withering looks :)

"I'm gonna get medieval on the Walkers' ass!"

(As long as by medieval we mean circa 1066 - 1200. I lose interest after that).

I'm picturing you more as Sigourney playing Ripley in Alien meets Joyce Grenfell @Vroomfondleswaistcoat ! That would be a world changing combo IMHO.

So glad the WP Correspondent is doing OK @TonstantWeader

Merrry new year! Health and happiness to all charabancers and their loved ones, including of course the dear four legged and winged friends!

Would anyone like my copies of TWS and LL? I offered them to MiL as fiction but she declined as she already has them on kindle. I got them from Vinted so they’re not new by any means. I’m happy to post them to anyone who wants to read the deception for themselves x

I still have a spare ticket for in person on Thursday evening - please reply on here and PM me to let me know if you are interested

Yes, I don't understand what is happening. Are contributors just cancelling each other? We have had a Wikipedia editor on here before ...

• Observer Newsroom: The Real Salt Path Story, Thursday 8th January 2026 6.30-7.30pm. More information and to book via this link observer.co.uk/our-events/the-real-salt-path-story

Thanks to @DisappointedReader for posting the above, at the beginning of this thread. The Observer are saying that there is a known glitch - which they are working on.

Just highlighting this as I am concerned that some people may have tried and given up. It seems important to show our interest, if possible ....

Thanks @BemusingBrandy , fingers crossed the glitch will get sorted in time. @NineNuzzlyMinecraft hopefully someone will be able to use the spare ticket (very generous of you) I'd love to go but no chance given distance, caring responsibilities and dodgy health!

Happened to be near Chez Walker today, and our local friends say they believe they are still holed up there. Counting their increased royalties no doubt hurumph.
Other farmer friends who farm up Fowey way say the Walkers’ are very unpopular indeed, and have described an apple harvest which was left to rot. Cider makers my a@rse!

Jan 13 - date in the diary for CH's podcast...

I've worked on that article, though not for a while. Looking at the edit history from the last few days, there was one editor, EditingRobin, who three times removed from the article's lead the text "In July 2025, a report in ''The Observer'' challenged the two events that led to the walk described in ''The Salt Path'', namely her husband's terminal diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and the circumstances that led them to be evicted from their house in North Wales". Other editors pointed out that this event is now a key part of Winn's notability, and should be in the lead, and reverted the change. EditingRobin has now been blocked from editing Wikipedia, and the article has been protected so that new editors (accounts less than four days old, or with fewer than ten edits) can't edit it.

From the comments, a couple of editors thought that EditingRobin might have a conflict of interest in Wikipedia terms - they might have a personal or business connection with her.

[The lead is the initial paragraph(s) before the Contents list and the detailed information.]

Simon Armpit
Do you know the title of the Podcast? Do you have a link?

Thank you very much for explaining this so that we can all understand what's been happening. It sounds as if a rather partisan editor had some time over the festive season - EditingRobin.

It would be good if the whole page was updated with facts. I can understand that there may not be enough to name HNTDDD (the Welsh novel) as Winn's first book - but there isn't any evidence she is a long-distance walker and that is on the page.

Is there a case for stating Ray has countered claims of any false diagnosis producing medical letters dated X & Y which are at odds with given date & reason for initial walk (?)

Or similar, sticking to given clear & stated evidence & dates?

That fact has been written up clearly, imo, in the Wiki article.

I'd love it to say that she has used another pseudonym before - Izzy Wyn-Thomas.

The Wikipedia article would benefit from a rigorous review and update, IMHO.

"long-distance walker" in the lead is, I think, supported by some of the citations in the main body of the article. The Guardian review of Landlines, for instance, although it doesn't actually call Winn an LDW, does describe her taking long walks. I haven't kept up with all the discussions here, so I don't know if you are suggesting that there isn't evidence that she is a long-distance walker. Wikipedia would need a reliable, independent, published source as back-up to be able to make that statement in the article.

Yes, I think there is no evidence at all that she is a long-distance walker. Everyone just says she is because she says she is. She says rather a lot of things that are not factual. That is why it would be brilliant, as @Peladon says above, if someone with the experience could update the whole page.