Nicholas Saunders (activist)

For other people of the same name, see Nicholas Saunders (disambiguation).

Nicholas Saunders (25 January (or possibly 25 July) 1938 – 3 February 1998)^[1] was a British figure in the 'alternative' movement from the 1970s until his death in a car crash in South Africa.

Alternative London

He researched, self-published and distributed a series of editions of Alternative London (ISBN 978-0950162829)^[2], an encyclopaedic guide to living in London, particularly for young people squatting, living on low incomes, on the fringes of conventional society, and with 'alternative' values and ambitions such as living communally and pursuing spiritual development. After travelling around the country in his live-in van Saunders published the larger 'Alternative England and Wales' guide in the same vein. Topics included improvising plumbing, electrical and other services, dealing with the legal and social security systems, sex, health, drug information, transport, food and sprititual religious and mystical systems.

Neals Yard

In 1976 Saunders moved into a warehouse in Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, where he opened a wholefood shop.^[1] This enterprise was successful and enabled him to start other businesses in the Yard including a dairy, cafe, the 'Apothecary' (dispensing alternative and natural remedies) and therapy rooms. Something of the character of Neal's Yard at the time is conveyed by pieces by Tim Hunkin: a water clock^[3] on the frontage of the shop and, inside the yard, a coin-operated animated wooden sculpture^[4].

E for Ecstasy

Personal experience with MDMA (ecstasy) led Saunders to investigate and write about this drug. He wrote E for Ecstasy and other books, and established the ecstasy.org website to provide not only general information but specific guides to various batches of the drug in circulation at any given time.^[1]

At the time of his death he was researching the use by peoples in various parts of the world of psychoactive drugs as part of traditional social rituals.^[1]

Bibliography

• 1970-1982 - Alternative London - six editions, last one edited by Georganne Downes

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} obituary by Nicholas Albery in The Guardian
2. ^ obituary by Flora Maxwell Stuart in The Independent
3. ^ Tim Hunkin water clock
4. ^ Tim Hunkin coin-operated animated wooden sculpture

External links

• Ecstasy.org website
• EROWID page with pictures and links
• 1997 interview with Saunders
• A space for people to share their thoughts and feelings on Nicholas' life on www.stain.org

Persondata
Name	Saunders, Nicholas
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1938
Place of birth
Date of death	1998
Place of death

This culture-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: 1938 births 1998 deaths Activist stubs English writer stubs Culture stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? Farshid Karimi Taiwan Garrison Command Look at other dictionaries: Nicholas Saunders — or Nick Saunders may refer to: Nicholas Saunders (Vice Chancellor) (born 1946), Australian academic and Vice Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Australia Nicholas Saunders (activist) (1938–1998), British entrepreneur of the alternative… …   Wikipedia Saunders — is a surname of English and Scottish patronymic origin derived from Sander, a mediæval form of Alexander [ [http://www.allwords.com/word Saunders.html Saunders] . Allwords .] .People with the surname Saunders include:* Al Saunders, American… …   Wikipedia Ephedrine — Systematic (IUPAC) name (R*,S*) 2 (methylamino) 1 phenylpro …   Wikipedia Selegiline — Systematic (IUPAC) name (R …   Wikipedia Mick Farren — Michael Anthony Mick Farren (born 3 September 1943, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground. Contents 1 Music 1.1 Singles 1.2 Albums …   Wikipedia Oz (magazine) — Oz number 33 Oz was first published as a satirical humour magazine between 1963 and 1969 in Sydney, Australia and, in its second and better known incarnation, became a psychedelic hippy magazine from 1967 to 1973 in London. Strongly identified as …   Wikipedia literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… …   Universalium List of London School of Economics people — This is a list of noted alumni or faculty of the London School of Economics. Heads of State or Heads of Government * Harmodio Arias (1886 1962) President of Panama, 1932 1936 * Óscar Arias (b. 1941) President of Costa Rica, 1986 1990, 2006… …   Wikipedia David Miller (Canadian politician) — For other people named David Miller, see David Miller (disambiguation). David Raymond Miller David Miller launching ICT Toronto 63rd Mayor of Toronto In office …   Wikipedia List of University of Chicago people — The following is a list of people affiliated with the University of Chicago, including alumni, current and former faculty members, students, and others. The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by American industrialist and philanthropist… …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”