Nicholas Saunders

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Nicholas Saunders (b. Jan 25 (or possibly Jul 25), 1938) was a free-thinking British figure of the 'alternative' movement from the 1970s until his death in a car crash in South Africa on Feb 3, 1998.

He researched, self-published and distributed a series of editions of 'Alternative London'. These were encyclopaediac guides 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 a larger guide in similar vein: 'Alternative England and Wales'. These books were characterised by the practical and open-minded way in which they conveyed information without presumption of how the reader might use it. 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.

In 1976 Saunders moved into a warehouse in Neal's Yard, Covent Garden, where he opened a wholefood shop. 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 on the frontage of the shop and, inside the yard, a coin-operated animated wooden sculpture.

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

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.