Samuel West unveils plaque for parents Timothy West and Prunella Scales at Braunston Marina
Samuel West, son of actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales, unveiled a plaque at Braunston Marina in Northamptonshire to honor his parents, who both died within the last two years. He described their TV show 'Great Canal Journeys' as a 'love story' rather than a show about industrial architecture. The event coincided with the Historic Boat Rally, where about 90 working boats were present. West recalled childhood holidays on narrowboats and the public's emotional response to the show's honest portrayal of his mother's dementia. The couple hosted the show on Channel 4 from 2014, covering 10 series. Scales, known for her role as Sybil Fawlty in 'Fawlty Towers', died aged 93 in October 2025; West died in May 2025.
Key facts
- Samuel West unveiled a plaque at Braunston Marina, Northamptonshire.
- Timothy West and Prunella Scales both died within the last two years.
- Great Canal Journeys was described as a 'love story' by Samuel West.
- The plaque unveiling opened this year's Historic Boat Rally.
- About 90 working boats were present at the rally.
- The show covered Scales' dementia openly over 10 series.
- Scales died aged 93 in October 2025; West died in May 2025.
- The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on the Kent and Avon Canal in series one.
Entities
Artists
- Timothy West
- Prunella Scales
- Samuel West
Institutions
- Channel 4
- BBC
- Braunston Marina
- Canal and River Trust
- Historic Boat Rally
Locations
- Braunston
- Northamptonshire
- Grand Union Canal
- Kent and Avon Canal
- Erith
- England