The late actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales' television series, Great Canal Journeys, was a "love story," according to their son, Samuel West.
Samuel West recently returned to Braunston, Northamptonshire, to unveil a plaque commemorating his parents at the marina where they moored their boat. The event also marked the opening of this year's Historic Boat Rally.
He described the support his family received when the show documented his mother's dementia as "enormously moving." The All Creatures Great and Small actor spoke at the Grand Union Canal, where the plaque was unveiled. "Sooner or later, all canal roads lead here, and all canal journeys end here," he stated.
Great Canal Journeys followed Timothy West and Prunella Scales as they explored Britain's waterways. The series gained particular attention when it documented Prunella Scales' struggle with dementia, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2013. The final episodes featuring her saw the couple navigating canals with a greater focus on Prunella's memory challenges, often with Samuel or other family members accompanying them. The show's ability to sensitively portray their lives while living with dementia resonated with many viewers.
Timothy West, who died in December 2022, and Prunella Scales, who passed away in November 2023, were a beloved television couple. Their shared passion for narrowboat travel and their candidness about health challenges endeared them to a wide audience. The series, which began in 2009, showcased the beauty of the UK's canal network and the slower pace of life associated with canal boating. Samuel West's tribute at Braunston Marina serves as a permanent recognition of their contribution to television and their enduring love for the waterways.