The Salt Path (The Film)

I read the two books by Chris Lewis who walked 19,000 miles around the coast of Britain.
He raised £500,000 for SSAFA.

He didn’t write as eloquently as Walker/Winn but he was brutally honest, I would highly recommend his two books.

Most gransnetters seem to have sussed this out. Must admit I was a bit shocked that this couple aren’t what I first thought.

This couple will be subjected to having every aspect of their lives investigated. There may be books and movies made about them.
I found the comments from neurologists about short life expectancy for people with the diagnosis Moth had. About six years, he’s alive and seems well 18 years post diagnosis.
I read they have adult children. I expect journalists to knock their doors
What an unedifying mess

The name Moth irritated me; not credible.They probably did not even do the walk and she stitched together a fantasy tale to make money.
Did anyone ever wonder why she came across as 'shy' when interviewed - now revealed as sly deceitful mendacity.

eazybee

Very frosty comment in the DT, via their lawyers:

" Today's Observer article is highly misleading. We are taking legal advice and won't be making any further comment at this time."
Umm.
Look out for all the book copies in charity shops any time soon.

I suppose it was the only thing they can say under the circumstances.

Very frosty comment in the DT, via their lawyers:

" Today's Observer article is highly misleading. We are taking legal advice and won't be making any further comment at this time."
Umm.
Look out for all the book copies in charity shops any time soon.

I’m supposed to be going to see the film on Thursday but I’m now having second thoughts.
Having read online news articles and this thread I don’t think I’ll enjoy it.
As somebody said upthread, it has similarities with Capt. Sir Tom Moore’s daughter.

*nom-de-plume

I was musing on how one would choose the name Raynor Winn if you wanted a non-de-plume … rain or wind?

And the more I think about it, how odd to embrace so much publicity. I’d have kept my head well down!

I read about them in The Observer. I always thought the story was far fetched but didn’t really they were con artists.

MayBee70

She could have written the book as a work of fiction and stayed anonymous. It would still have sold well. But maybe she needed the back story to get a publisher and then got caught up in the lie. And then, as I said earlier, started to believe it herself? It's all very odd. I often wonder about all the people that get let down when famous people declare themselves bankrupt and then bounce back again leaving a trail of financial carnage behind them.

But maybe she needed the back story to get a publisher and then got caught up in the lie.

No, she was due to be arrested and disappeared. Changed names and scarpered.

Today, The Sunday Times has published an article about this couple. It seems they are not quite who they say they are. I myself have no comment myself as I’ve neither read the book or seen the film.

She could have written the book as a work of fiction and stayed anonymous. It would still have sold well. But maybe she needed the back story to get a publisher and then got caught up in the lie. And then, as I said earlier, started to believe it herself? It's all very odd. I often wonder about all the people that get let down when famous people declare themselves bankrupt and then bounce back again leaving a trail of financial carnage behind them.

Primrose53

Throughout the first book she (Raynor/Sally) made such a lot of how they had been badly let down, how life was so unfair etc. she sounded pretty convincing too. It niggled at me though because if your husband is genuinely very ill would you drag him off on a massive walk with a flimsy tent and thin sleeping bags and, of course, hardly any money?

Can anybody actually prove they did this walk?

Perhaps the people they stole from or who gave them freebies on the way?

Throughout the first book she (Raynor/Sally) made such a lot of how they had been badly let down, how life was so unfair etc. she sounded pretty convincing too. It niggled at me though because if your husband is genuinely very ill would you drag him off on a massive walk with a flimsy tent and thin sleeping bags and, of course, hardly any money?

Can anybody actually prove they did this walk?

I agree with Monica, cheating is their normal so they won’t get what the fuss is about. They will have been scamming all their lives and not had a conscience about it so making amends isn’t something they are likely to do. What they have done should be a criminal offence so when found guilty they will have plenty of time to write their next book from HMP Wherever!

Sago

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the woodwork.

Apparently all this came about because Raynor stole from an employer.

However even if they are fraudulent many thousands of us have enjoyed the book and now the film!

I’m sure they will find a way to make amends.

You are very trusting Sago people like this will find every reason in the world not to repay people. They will dodge and duck and if all else fails, go and live somewhere else, on their plot in France for example or a nice new flat on the Algarve.

I read the first book and ever since I have not quite bought the story. It was their attitude towards those better off, also sneaking out of the camp site and not paying, stealing food, etc. Also the claim that Moth's health gradually improved just because of walking. We happened to spot them at Par railway station a couple of years ago and you would not think there was anything wrong with him at all, a very strapping, healthy-looking man.

It's extraordinarily audacious of them to put themselves out there - on breakfast TV, interviews, red carpet- and not think any of the people from the past who knew the truth would speak up. What did they think was going to happen??

Sago

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the woodwork.

Apparently all this came about because Raynor stole from an employer.

However even if they are fraudulent many thousands of us have enjoyed the book and now the film!

I’m sure they will find a way to make amends.

I’m sure they will find a way to make amends.

Not everyone is as good-natured, Sago!

Anyway, too late for Martin Hemmings, he died in 2012 although his widow is still alive.

Ros Hemmings remembers how deeply her husband was affected by the episode. “It absolutely destroyed him because he was a very trusting, kind person,” she says.

Former staff described Martin, who died in 2012, as a cheerful, warm and generous character.

observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

I’m sure they will find a way to make amends.

Do theives make amends?

There was something about the first book that made me not warm to Raynor Win - or is it now Sally Wslker - so whilst I enjoyed it for the elements of the journey and the South West and the idea of an epic walk I have hung back from going to see the film.Now I'm glad.And if its all true about the theft and the real reason they lost their house I think it leaves a nasty taste that the books have made them do much money.They are basically dishonest.

When the book first came out a friend bought it, read it and passed it to me saying how wonderful this couple were etc etc. Within the first few chapters I thought theres so much here that doesn’t add up and this couple are clever con merchants I felt sure. But no one else thought so and they rose higher and higher in their fame and tv interviews. But still I did not believe them but as it didn’t matter a jot to me I never gave them another thought. But it seems my distrust of them and their well crafted story was well founded and I’m not just a cynical old dear who begrudges others fame and fortune!

I wonder how Gigspanner and, to a lesser degree Angela Harding will react to this revelation?

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the woodwork.

Apparently all this came about because Raynor stole from an employer.

However even if they are fraudulent many thousands of us have enjoyed the book and now the film!

I’m sure they will find a way to make amends.