In 1996, actor Timothy Spall’s life was put on hold when he was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. In his hospital bed he made a vow to his wife Shane that when he recovered he’d buy a Rolls Royce and a boat.
He kept his promise. The Princess Matilda was a 30ft lump of metal but they fell in love with her straightaway and named her after their first granddaughter. Although they’d barely sailed before, it didn’t stop them setting themselves a massive challenge – to circumnavigate the coast of the UK. If they succeeded, they’d be the first to make the journey in a Dutch barge.
The first leg of their big adventure saw them set off from London and sail around the South Coast. Shane chronicled the highs and lows of their epic journey in her book, The Voyages Of Princess Matilda. Not just a travelogue, it was also a heartbreaking account of what it’s like to look on helplessly as your husband’s health hangs in the balance.
What to read next
The first book finishes in Cardiff, but their adventure didn't end in Wales. The Princess Matilda Comes Home, which follows the couple as they take on the second leg of their journey, is just as good a read. Shane is a terrific writer with a great knack for painting vivid pictures. There are some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments when they get themselves into scrapes but ultimately the book is a moving love letter to Timothy.
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