A life shaped by hospitality, family, and the pursuit of fairness.

William Ireland grew up at The Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove, South Devon—a place that became more than a family business. For over fifty years, the hotel was the centre of his world, a stage where unforgettable characters, unexpected dramas, and lasting friendships played out against the backdrop of the English coast.



From childhood, William was immersed in the realities of service: the long hours, the camaraderie of staff, and the joy of welcoming guests who returned year after year.

He saw first-hand that hospitality was not just about rooms and meals—it was about people, care, and creating a sense of belonging.

Continuing a Family Legacy

The seeds of A Good Scrap I Fear were planted decades earlier by William’s late mother, Janet Ireland, who began writing down her memories of life in the hotel. Her voice, captured in diaries and notes, provided a foundation that William was determined to preserve.

Completing the book became not just a project, but a promise—to honour his parents’ work, and to ensure that their story, and the wider story of the family business, would not be forgotten.



By weaving together his mother’s reflections with his own experiences, William has created a scrapbook of resilience, humour, and candour. It is a record of life in hospitality, but also a testament to family, community, and the strength to persevere in the face of adversity.

More Than a Memoir

For William, telling this story is about more than remembering the past. It is also about shining a light on the challenges that small businesses face when confronted by bureaucracy and unaccountable authority.

His family’s long struggle with local planning disputes became the catalyst for a broader campaign—a call for change that is central to both the book and William’s ongoing work.

A Voice for Change

As an author, speaker, and advocate, William combines storytelling with a determination to see lessons learned and reforms made. His perspective is both local and universal: rooted in a hotel on the Devon coast, yet relevant to anyone who has faced obstacles in pursuit of fairness.

A Good Scrap I Fear is his first book—a memoir, a case study, and a rallying call. It honours the past while looking firmly toward the future.