Voyages of Princess Matilda - Book Review

The Voyages of the Princess Matilda

By Shane Spall

June 2012

I came to the Princess Matilda saga a bit late really. I was flipping TV channels one evening and came across Shane and Tim Spall setting of from Whitby on one of the last legs of their epic round Britain trip aboard their barge Princess Matilda. 

Oh the glories of Sky, they repeat stuff so often it wasn't long before we were Sky Plus'ing both series One (Portsmouth to Cardiff) and Two (Cardiff to London via the Caledonian Canal) simultaneously. 

Whilst starting to get into the series I noticed a review in Waterways World of Shane Spall's account of the London to Cardiff section, which spanned a period of about five years, mentioned it to Belle and then promptly forgot about it till I unwrapped a copy on my birthday.

Its a cracking watery read, providing a context to the expedition based on time owning a narrowboat and all set against a diary account of their battle with Tim's leukemia a few years ago. Like many boaters, they define their lives "before boat and after boat" such is the difference owning a craft can make to you lives.

Their stop go progress is well written and Shane has a wicked sense of humour and a seemingly boundless trust in Tims navigational skills, a view he clearly does not share. He carries the weight of navigational responsibility heavily upon his shoulders - and so he should considering the waters he has to cover in an under powered barge.

Its a slow journey round our island, proving that adventure needn't be a long way away. Ours is  beautiful country and there is so much to see, particularly if you are travelling at 6mph!

The book has the advantage over the TV series in that it covers the entire trip from London, whereas the TV programme picks them up much later in the South West. 

Perhaps the most striking thing is the difference between the two individuals who offer a charming counterpoint to each other. Tim with his many thousands of pounds of hi tec navigation equipment and scared stupid and Shane with her trusty AA road map of Britain which is never far from her reach but with complete confidence that they will reach their next destination.

As with any good book, it leaves you wanting more. And in this case there is more - the whole northern section between Cardiff and London. Let's hope Shane has her laptop out and is busy writing the sequel.