FIRST PERSON TO BRING LSD TO BRITAIN

Dr Ronnie Sandison, who brought LSD back from the Sandoz laboratories in Switzerland during September 1952:

Reference: Interview with Dr Sandison, February, 2007

Caveat: It is possible someone brought LSD to Britain prior to Sandison. It could possibly have been brought in by members of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in preparation for their experiments at Porton Down, which commenced in 1953. The records of the SIS are classified. It is also possible that LSD was obtained prior to September 1952 by Joel Elkes, head of the Department of Experimental Psychology at Birmingham University. However, he has been unable to give an exact date for his taking of LSD and Sandison is the earliest known person to have brought LSD into Britain.

Further information: Chapter 3 of Albion Dreaming

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 FIRST PERSON IN BRITAIN TO USE LSD RECREATIONALLY

Dave Cunliffe, who was a drug courier in late Fifties London, took LSD in 1959.

Reference: Letter from Dave Cunliffe

Caveat: Cunliffe was given his LSD by someone who was already using the drug, and so is certainly not the first person to use LSD recreationally. However, his account is the first referenced account of recreational usage of the drug. Those who had taken LSD as part of the SIS tests at Porton Down, or as part of the many LSD therapy centres in Britain are discounted as they were not taking the drug primarily for their own pleasure.

Further information: Chapter 6 of Albion Dreaming

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FIRST PERSON IN BRITAIN TO BE ARRESTED FOR AN LSD RELATED OFFENCE

John Esam, arrested in February 1966 for conspiracy to distribute. LSD was still legal at the time and after several court appearances Esam was acquitted in early 1967.

Reference: Manchester Guardian 18/1/67

Caveat:   It is possible that others were arrested before Esam. But as LSD was not in the police or media eye until early 1966 it is unlikely.

Further information:   Chapter 7 of Albion Dreaming

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FIRST PERSON IN BRITAIN TO BE CONVICTED OF LSD POSSESSION  

In April 1966, Roger Leonard Lewis was convicted of possessing 13 cubes of sugar containing LSD. Lewis was given a 12 month conditional discharge. Although LSd was still legal at this time it was only legal to possess if it had been obtained by a prescription issued by a doctor.

Reference:   Times 28/4/66

Caveat:   It is possible that the police tried to convict earlier than April 1966, but unlikely given the fact that LSD had only recently come to the public and police's attention.

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 FIRST PERSON IN BRITAIN TO ILLEGALLY MANUFACTURE LSD

 Victor Kapur: Kapur, a London chemist, began making LSD in late 1966. He was arrested in November 1967 and sentenced in May 1968.

Caveat:   It is possible others had illegally made LSD in Britain prior to Kapur but his is the first newspaper record of such an event.

Further information:   The lengthy Kapur story is detailed in Chapters 8 and 9 of Albion Dreaming. 

 

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  FIRST NEWSPAPER REFERENCE IN BRITAIN TO LSD

 The Sunday Mercury for 23 May 1964 ran an article called Mrs Brown comes out of the shadows which detailed the new therapies being used at Powick hospital in Gloucestershire. One paragraph referred to a new drug which was clearly LSD, although it was not mentioned by name.

On 17 June 1954 the Sunday Mercury headlind a story with L.S.D.-25 Gives Doctors A Way To Reveal Secrets. This was the first newspaper reference to LSD by name.

Caveat: It is possible LSD was written about earlier than the above dates, but these are the earliest references I have found to date.

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 FIRST BRITISH REFERENCE TO LSD IN A SONG

In April 1966 The Pretty Things released a single whose B side was LSD, written £SD. Members of The Pretty Things were known to use LSD, and the chorus was a vehement 'I want my LSD'. The song was widely believed to refer to the drug rather than money.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eXzgMQM0B-8

A flexi disc, issued free with the Christmas 1966 edition of Private Eye, had on it a song called Psychedelic Baby, which referred to LSD, blotter and sugar lumps. This, while not available on general release, was almost certainly the first recorded reference to LSD the drug.

Further information: Chapter 8 of Albion Dreaming

 

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 FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD IN A BRITISH NOVEL

In Baron's Court All Change by Terry Taylor (1961) one of his characters says: “‘Really?’ my junkie friend said, sounding interested, ‘What’s it now? Bennies, L.S.D., or Nems?’”

Further information: Chapter 7 of Albion Dreaming

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 FIRST BRITISH NOVEL ABOUT LSD

  Compact Books (London) published The LSD Dossier by Roger Harris, in 1966. The book was a sub James Bond espionage thriller in which LSD was depicted as an addictive substance. The book’s author was a pseudonym for a writer who would become very well known for his science fantasy books.

 Caveat: There may have been another British LSD novel prior to the LSD Dossier, but I am unaware of it.

 Further information: The name of the pseudonymous author is in Albion Dreaming

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FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD IN A BRITISH POEM

In Burning Joy, a book of poems by George Andrews, the poem Amsterdam Reflection deals with and mentions LSD by name.

Burning Joy, George Andrews, Trigram Press, 1966

Further information: Chapters 2 and 7 of Albion Dreaming

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 FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING INGESTED IN BRITAIN VIA SUGAR CUBES

 

FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING INGESTED IN BRITAIN VIA BLOTTING PAPER (LOOSE)

 

FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING SOLD IN BRITAIN ON SHEETS OF BLOTTING PAPER

 

FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING SOLD IN BRITAIN ON BLOTTING PAPER OVERLAID WITH DESIGNS/PICTURES

 

FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING SOLD IN BRITAIN IN CAPSULE FORM

 

FIRST REFERENCE TO LSD BEING SOLD IN BRITAIN IN MICRODOT FORM

 

FIRST MURDER IN BRITAIN ATTRIBUTED TO LSD

 

FIRST SUICIDE ATTRIBUTED TO LSD