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Thread 25 : To feel disappointed - and disgusted and vindicated now too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

1000 replies

DisappointedReader · 03/02/2026 23:59

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 24 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?
Links to threads 18-20 can be found in the OP of Thread 21: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5460943-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?
Thread 22:www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5470952-thread-22-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?
Thread 23:www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5475246-thread-23-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?

After 24,000 posts there are still recent, new and up-and-coming things to look out for on the path.
Recent:

New: Up-and-coming:
  • Our Chloe's short video about Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's first book How not to Dal dy Dir - date to be confirmed.
  • BBC Podcast - date to be confirmed

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. The Observer's new podcast series The Walkers (link above) covers most things.
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. For 7 months we have done amazingly well together for 24 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.

If you are posting about a podcast, please start your post with the episode number you are commenting on, for clarity and to help others avoid spoilers if they wish to do so. Many thanks.

After listening to The Walkers: The real Salt Path podcast episodes from The Observer my thoughts are even more with the Walker/Winns' victims. I also believe that the publishers, agent and prizegivers must now act and be seen to act.

As we enter our quarter century thread riding the community charabanc, as always keep to the path, no saltiness, eat fudge and drink cider.

NO POSTS PLEASE UNTIL THREAD 24 IS FULL Thread 24 : To feel disappointed - and now disgusted and vindicated too - after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

OP posts:
Thread gallery
105
SableGules · 12/03/2026 09:55

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 09:52

I’m just about catching up. Reading the observations above about Julie/Caritas, I googled Caritas and found a photo in which a woman looked like the Julie in Sal’s photos. What do you think?
Caritas ACE project

Ooh, good sleuthing. I’d have to go back and look more closely at photos of ‘Julie’ to compare, but that woman on the far left of the photo certainly looks like the one in SW’s photos —certainly roughly the right colouring, hair, build.

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 09:56

SableGules · 12/03/2026 09:55

Ooh, good sleuthing. I’d have to go back and look more closely at photos of ‘Julie’ to compare, but that woman on the far left of the photo certainly looks like the one in SW’s photos —certainly roughly the right colouring, hair, build.

Edited

And she’s a counsellor!

SableGules · 12/03/2026 10:09

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 09:56

And she’s a counsellor!

And someone whose work is in campaigning for the underprivileged, or whatever it is SW describes her as doing somewhere.

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 10:15

I am sure it’s her. I haven’t got Linked in (she has a profile) but the woman in the photo appears to be the woman she walked with (referenced in the article) given her job title and there is a strong similarity to the Iceland photo in my opinion.

BrandyAndLovage · 12/03/2026 10:32

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 10:15

I am sure it’s her. I haven’t got Linked in (she has a profile) but the woman in the photo appears to be the woman she walked with (referenced in the article) given her job title and there is a strong similarity to the Iceland photo in my opinion.

Edited

I am pretty sure, too. I was one of the cynics who didn't think they were the same in those other 2 photos that someone, maybe@ThompsonTwin, put side by side - so I have studied that face before!

I am sure this hiding in plain sight adds to the fun of the Walkers - so it fits with that, too.

BrandyAndLovage · 12/03/2026 10:37

BrandyAndLovage · 12/03/2026 10:32

I am pretty sure, too. I was one of the cynics who didn't think they were the same in those other 2 photos that someone, maybe@ThompsonTwin, put side by side - so I have studied that face before!

I am sure this hiding in plain sight adds to the fun of the Walkers - so it fits with that, too.

Yes, surely it is in this line up, her name is there but I am not inserting it:

ACE receives over £450k National Lottery Funding to support vulnerable people - Caritas Care Adoption, Fostering and Learning Disability Services North West

ACE receives over £450k National Lottery Funding to support vulnerable people - Caritas Care Adoption, Fostering and Learning Disability Services North West

Caritas Care’s ACE Service celebrates after receiving over £450k from the National Lottery to work with medium to high risk ex-offenders to help them resettle after their release from prison....

https://www.caritascare.org.uk/ace-receives-over-450k-national-lottery-funding-to-support-vulnerable-people/

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:05

I found the Caritas photo when I was due to leave the house for an hair appointment - oh the agony of not being able to write a proper post or do some further sleuthing! So I jumped in the car, buzzing with excitement, parked outside the hairdresser and hastily wrote a bit more here - then had to make small talk with the hairdresser when all I really wanted to do was get back on Mumsnet. Am now waiting for the colour to take hold (yes SalRay, I’m getting my roots done - what a superficial state of affairs - judge away) and I’m just SO GLAD we might have tied up this loose end!
@Freshsocks (who joined me on a Julie hunt at one point ) - what do you think about the photos?

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:05

I'm pretty sure too. There are other photos online. It looks like the same person to me.

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:11

I was comparing with the Thames path photo and was pretty sure. I've now compared with the Iceland photo and I'm very sure.

HatStickBoots · 12/03/2026 11:12

That’s definitely the same lady as the one with them in the pub on thread 24, I put both photos side by side and there’s no doubt. Well done!! 👏

HatStickBoots · 12/03/2026 11:17

Sally Walker really did a number on her!! Oh my … how she must be feeling.

Freshsocks · 12/03/2026 11:18

Well, well, well, @Anythingbutheadlands, it does look like Julie and she works with ex offenders, that would explain why she would stand by Sally and Tim. Well done @Anythingbutheadlands, hope your hair looks fab :)

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:21

Freshsocks · 12/03/2026 11:18

Well, well, well, @Anythingbutheadlands, it does look like Julie and she works with ex offenders, that would explain why she would stand by Sally and Tim. Well done @Anythingbutheadlands, hope your hair looks fab :)

Thank you - currently covered in foils…not fab yet but here’s hoping!

@BrandyAndLovage must have some kudos here for having the idea that the person in the article (quoted by @ThompsonTwin ) could be Julie. A team effort!
Well done charabanceers!

SableGules · 12/03/2026 11:23

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:05

I found the Caritas photo when I was due to leave the house for an hair appointment - oh the agony of not being able to write a proper post or do some further sleuthing! So I jumped in the car, buzzing with excitement, parked outside the hairdresser and hastily wrote a bit more here - then had to make small talk with the hairdresser when all I really wanted to do was get back on Mumsnet. Am now waiting for the colour to take hold (yes SalRay, I’m getting my roots done - what a superficial state of affairs - judge away) and I’m just SO GLAD we might have tied up this loose end!
@Freshsocks (who joined me on a Julie hunt at one point ) - what do you think about the photos?

Well, if you care about your roots and are 'elegant', you are officially the Wrong Type, @Anythingbutheadlands. In a minute, you will probably morph into someone who orders an entire plate of breakfast for yourself at Fat Apples, the confident wife of a suspiciously soft-handed City boy, or a literary agent or editor. Grin

I can't remember what Chloe H said about 'Julie and Dave' -- did she say she'd been unable to track them down? I imagine she's moved on to other investigations now, even if people thought there wasn't an ethical or privacy issue with 'outing' this woman as 'Julie'.

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:23

Is it just me having trouble loading the pavement.org magazine link? I read it earlier but can’t go back to it now.

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:23

Compared with the pub photo - without a shadow of a doubt the same person. Top work @Anythingbutheadlands!

SableGules · 12/03/2026 11:24

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:21

Thank you - currently covered in foils…not fab yet but here’s hoping!

@BrandyAndLovage must have some kudos here for having the idea that the person in the article (quoted by @ThompsonTwin ) could be Julie. A team effort!
Well done charabanceers!

Yes, remind me not to do anything whatsoever to get on any of your wrong sides, ever!

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:24

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:23

Is it just me having trouble loading the pavement.org magazine link? I read it earlier but can’t go back to it now.

It's the same for me, I've been trying all morning. Hmm.

BrandyAndLovage · 12/03/2026 11:27

SableGules · 12/03/2026 11:24

Yes, remind me not to do anything whatsoever to get on any of your wrong sides, ever!

You backed me up immediately when I commented - so the same goes for you too! ❤

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:31

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:24

It's the same for me, I've been trying all morning. Hmm.

Would it be paranoid or grandiose to think they might be taking it down? Or maybe the sheer volume of mumsnetters trying to read it?
@SableGules bring on the full breakfast! My smug, tight lips are ready for it!

SableGules · 12/03/2026 11:31

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:24

It's the same for me, I've been trying all morning. Hmm.

I've just tried and it isn't loading for me either. The site in general isn't loading, not just the RW article links.

Freshsocks · 12/03/2026 11:32

It's always interesting when articles disappear, like the consultants review of TSP.

BrandyAndLovage · 12/03/2026 11:33

RockyPath · 12/03/2026 11:24

It's the same for me, I've been trying all morning. Hmm.

I can't load The Pavement either. I tried with the article that I shared then went on to the currently relevant one shared by @ThompsonTwin but .... nothing. I remember, at the beginning, people had to do screenshots as things were being taken down but surely we're not that famous ....

SableGules · 12/03/2026 11:34

Anythingbutheadlands · 12/03/2026 11:31

Would it be paranoid or grandiose to think they might be taking it down? Or maybe the sheer volume of mumsnetters trying to read it?
@SableGules bring on the full breakfast! My smug, tight lips are ready for it!

Wait till your foils are out so you can look elegant while you eat, interrupting your meal only to dab your smug, tight lips and occasionally hiss 'Tramps!'

HatStickBoots · 12/03/2026 11:46

Freshsocks · 12/03/2026 11:18

Well, well, well, @Anythingbutheadlands, it does look like Julie and she works with ex offenders, that would explain why she would stand by Sally and Tim. Well done @Anythingbutheadlands, hope your hair looks fab :)

Interesting that you think she knew all along. It occurred to me after I’d posted, that maybe she did. However, I can’t believe that the Walkers would ever be truthful with anybody… making their own parents destitute, running around in Landrovers and designer clothing, buying property in France whilst throwing stones at second home owners who happen to be anyone other than them, so it’s all a bit grim.
Tight, smug lips indeed. I think all her derogatory remarks were her own projections.

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