I loved studying the article about Nicholas Saunders (hippie, capitalist, guru, grocer: the forgotten genius who modified British meals, January 23). I met this exceptional man throughout my scholar holidays in 1976, when he employed me and a few younger mates to transform this superb deserted banana warehouse right into a wholefoods retailer. It was an unimaginable expertise (I bear in mind an armor producer subsequent door).
Nick was such a visionary; he should have been one of many first to see the potential of outdated Covent Backyard and work to rejuvenate the lately deserted fruit and vegetable market. A go to to Neal’s Yard now fills me with nice delight and in addition with fond reminiscences of that summer season and dealing for Nick.
Nick Murphy
East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire
Jonathan Nunn’s piece on the anarchist however principled hippie capitalist Nicholas Saunders introduced again the joyful insanity of the late Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies, once I helped analysis the fourth version of Different London and its successor, Different England & Wales. The disadvantages had been incidental. The geese that ducked underneath the window that separated the home and backyard from his house in World’s Finish naturally vomited over the cushions we reclined on in his papier-mâché cave.
Jennifer Potter
London
Earlier than Saunders produced Different London, I had a small, tatty guide referred to as Mission Free London, which gave you the whole lot you wanted to find out about dwelling cheaply within the metropolis – from which eating places and outlets threw away undesirable however nonetheless contemporary meals late at night time . night time, about the way to journey on the metro free of charge. It additionally contained helpful info, resembling the phone numbers of ministers and different notables.
I do not know who produced or printed it, however I do know the way it was distributed, because it mentioned on the duvet: “Do not buy this guide, if anybody costs you for it they are going to rip you off”, or phrases with that purpose. I bought mine from a buddy.
Graham Mullan
Bristol
One of many joys of utilizing Neal’s Yard Desktop Publishing Studio within the Eighties was the common arrival of teams of businessmen (usually in threes, for some motive). Their try to pitch a enterprise proposal to Saunders can be met with a chilly stare and a curt response: “We do not play the enterprise recreation.” As for his position within the meals revolution, the final time I noticed him was at The Strand, scarfing down a KFC…
Bevan Jones
London
One other issue for change within the British eating regimen was the bakery strikes of the Nineteen Seventies, which utterly modified the nation’s bread. The market was dominated by two massive firms and all that was usually obtainable was white cotton wool bread – and some Hovis loaves for a distinct segment market. Throughout the strikes, individuals needed to begin baking themselves and found what bread ought to style like. Who may have imagined then that sooner or later individuals would purchase bread machines?
Deirdre Sutton
Evesham, Worcestershire
Your article states that Saunders “even went to the island of Paros to grill farmers.” I hope he marinated them in Greek yogurt in a single day first.
Peter Dewar
Bromley, London