The Salt Path (The Film)

The comments by the neurologists are particularly interesting.

Yes, that was actually one part of the “true” story I found difficult to believe, but was willing to accept it.

I’ve read the article and I’m not surprised, even without them having a home in France, I always thought it strange that they didn’t prepare in case they lost their Welsh home.
I’m sure in the book they said they had a van stored somewhere, they could have sold it rather than starve.
I think more will come out, after this article.

Thankyou for these links.

I am not a bit surprised, …..a bit like John and Anne Darwin who faked his death and deceived even their own children. At least they did not cheat so many people.

I now feel justified in thoroughly disliking the Raynor Winn woman in the book.

I hope and trust that all the people they cheated will be repaid ?

I did wonder about "Moth" s illness so many years later. What a story.

I read The Observer article, I feel a bit of an idiot now having bigged up the film. I knew nothing about the rumblings of discontent and the shady back history. I read first the book and lately saw the film taking it all at face value, just an uplifting story in overcoming adversity. The added attraction for me I love the setting, currently wending our way back from a glorious week in Devon via a night in Somerset. I've come to adore the West Country.

Shame they have been somewhat economical with the truth, even her name, which I thought was unusual is a pseudonym

I was really taken with the book when I read it when it first came out, and told my husband about it. He is very astute and immediately said “Something about how they lost the house doesn’t quite add up”. I’ll be showing him the Observer article that makes the real situation very clear!

I gave up on her second book, it was dead boring. Haven’t seen the film, too may mixed reviews.

I saw the trailer and didn't fancy it. Mumsnet has a very interesting thread about this pair and someone put a link to the newspaper article in The Observer. I wont be buying the book or watching the film. To be honest I was wary of all the hype from the beginning, in my experience, over- hyped books and films are always disappointing.

Oh dear, I am now wondering if any of it was true. Was the whole journey a figment of the Winn/ Walker imagination? Did they get the idea from their real surname? The only sure thing, imo, is that they have been successful con merchants.

Oh dear. I loved the book and the film and now feel shocked.
But I think they did do the walk, although how much of it is true I can't imagine. I hope they feel ashamed.

The only surprise I feel is that their behaviour was even worse than I suspected. I was telling myself I was just an old cynic.

How interesting. I started the book then abandoned it for 2 reasons. My OH died with PD and I did not particularly want to read about someone woth a neurodegenerative disorder... been there, done that. But also I simply did not believe a word of it.
I thought I was just an old cynic ... but maybe not .....

I'm not a bit surprised.

She always looked disingenuous in interviews, now we know that she is a fraud through and through.

Jason Isaac's, Gillian Anderson, the producers - all deceived and showing support for them in interviews.

Wandering apostrophe, thanks autocorrect, I changed it once!

I have just read the article, honestly, not one bit surprised

Outcast52

I'm absolutely stunned and disgusted by the number of thoroughly unpleasant posts on this thread - pious, superior, judgemental, critical - not an ounce of sympathy, empathy or compassion, and in some instances, sceptical, cynical and disbelieving. I suspect many of these carping voices have never read the book and just leapt on the "middle class, professional scroungers" bandwagon.

This couple bought an old, run-down farm and gradually rebuilt and refurbished it into a beloved home where they brought up their family. Via a combination of circumstances, they lost it, fought tenaciously but ultimately unsuccessfully to right the injustices and keep their home and many of these posters simply roll their eyes, label them stupid or arrogant or too mean to pay for legal advice and "brought all this misfortune on themselves". They DID seek legal advice and actually spent all their savings on solicitors' fees - obviously to no avail. Owing to a recent change in the law, there was no access to legail aid for a barrister, so Raynor had no option but to try and defend herself in court. She made one simple error of timing / admin request: how many of us would have the capacity, in those circumstances, to navigate the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the legal / justice system, but of course it was all their own fault! So were they supposed to just say "Oh silly us, ok take our home"?

At almost the same time, they received the devastating diagnosis of Moth's incurable condition. But of course they must have exaggerated, given up too easily, maybe even lied. They couldn't possibly have been so shattered and broken, sent from pillar to post by a deeply unhelpful benefits and housing system that they simply didn't know what to do and fled, in a sense.

How dare you look down on them for "stealing a chocolate bar"? "I hope they went back and paid for it" someone opined. Which of us would not do the same if we were desperate to survive? Does anyone think there might be the slightest chance that those businesses have benefitted hugely from the success of Raynor's book and this new film? Might there have been a massive influx of tourists boosting the economy of that whole region, including the victims of the great chocolate robbery?

And by the way, Raynor wrote the account of their epic journey as a memento for Moth, not in some kind of cynical, grasping decision to make a fortune out of their misfortune. They received great kindness from strangers and dispensed it themselves, even with the little they had.

Raynor has done a huge amount for the homeless in this country, raising awareness and lobbying for change and has donated a good deal of money to associated charities. The despicable attitudes to her and Moth and what they suffered, survived and have achieved are shameful. I hope to goodness that none of you ever have to deal with similar and I hope to God that she never reads this site.

Wow! You really fell for it hook, line and sinker didn’t you.

Remember the old saying “if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”

I just KNEW from first reading the book that large parts of it were dodgy. Thank you so much to the person who linked to the Observer article.

I have seen the couple interviewed several times on TV and they never look very comfortable about some of the questions.

In both the book and film they never made it clear exactly how they lost their home.

They barely mentioned their adult kids and pretty sure they didn’t mention their own parents and siblings either. That is very odd. With all that time to think whilst walking (if they ever really did!) they must have thought of their families or even considered asking for a bit of financial support.

They could have asked the Consultant treating “Moth” to do a foreword to the book, but they didn’t. That’s odd.

There’s loads more stuff that made me dubious but I am just glad they have been exposed.

It's too bad for people who were taken in.

Disappointing.

This is clearly the Lathyrus3 show!

It does seem astonishing that none of this has ever come to light before

Crossstitchfan

This is clearly the Lathyrus3 show!

19 posts!! Good grief!

Crossstitchfan

Crossstitchfan

This is clearly the Lathyrus3 show!

19 posts!! Good grief!

How unpleasant.

This post is an example of GN becoming more intolerant.

I had to look back to see what you meant, but in point of fact it is clear that lathyrus was merely in conversation with other posters. And even if she wasn’t, it does you no favours making such an aggressive comment.

At least I didn’t appear to say “I told you so”.

Whoops😬😂

I agree Whitewavemark2. Until pointed out by Crossstitchfan, I hadn't noticed or counted who posted what...

I have to say that I did find it odd when I read the book that there was little mention of their adult children (who must be cringing now and hoping they can continue to keep a low profile 🙁).

I don't feel foolish for having been taken in by the story she wove by writing the book, it's not as if I was the only one, beginning with the agent and the publisher. 🤷‍♀️