Opium Poppies Grown at WHF?

[Holly Goodhead]

I read it wrong - but wonder how the Dr would know about a licence?

Dr Craig was a police surgeon with 30 years experience so I assume he was very familiar with the widely used pain relieving drug morphine, which as I'm sure you know is derived from the opium poppy.  I assume he was also aware of  how it was produced and all the processes surrounding it ie licensed poppy farmers overseas.  By this I mean he would probably be aware it was grown overseas under licence so asked if WHF had a licence.  That's one explanation.  Another explanation, as per CAL's book although it's unsourced, is that JB told Dr Craig WHF had a licence:

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

Blue has one WS only from Dr Craig and there's no mention of opium poppies but he might have made other WS's which CAL had access to via the CT but as I said CAL hasn't quoted her source. 

Was it possible (and legal) that WHF had a licence to grow the poppies for an overseas pharmaceutical company?  As the Bambers were tenant farmers did they have complete autonomy over operations or did the trustees of the Henry Smith Charity have a say?  If the former was there anything that prevented NB negotiating, either directly or indirectly, with a foreign government/pharmaceutical company to farm opium poppies?  If the latter maybe NB was following instructions from the trustees.

As NB was a RAF pilot in WW2 I am sure he would be more familiar than most with many aspects of morphine. 

[APRIL]

Dr Craig was a police surgeon with 30 years experience so I assume he was very familiar with the widely used pain relieving drug morphine, which as I'm sure you know is derived from the opium poppy.  I assume he was also aware of  how it was produced and all the processes surrounding it ie licensed poppy farmers overseas.  By this I mean he would probably be aware it was grown overseas under licence so asked if WHF had a licence.  That's one explanation.  Another explanation, as per CAL's book although it's unsourced, is that JB told Dr Craig WHF had a licence:

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

Blue has one WS only from Dr Craig and there's no mention of opium poppies but he might have made other WS's which CAL had access to via the CT but as I said CAL hasn't quoted her source. 

Was it possible (and legal) that WHF had a licence to grow the poppies for an overseas pharmaceutical company?  As the Bambers were tenant farmers did they have complete autonomy over operations or did the trustees of the Henry Smith Charity have a say?  If the former was there anything that prevented NB negotiating, either directly or indirectly, with a foreign government/pharmaceutical company to farm opium poppies?  If the latter maybe NB was following instructions from the trustees.

As NB was a RAF pilot in WW2 I am sure he would be more familiar than most with many aspects of morphine.

One has to speculate on why, in the midst of mayhem, Jeremy felt the need to pick poppies.

[Myster]

One has to speculate on why, in the midst of mayhem, Jeremy felt the need to pick poppies.

He got the jitters and wanted to divert attention from the carnage he'd created?

[Myster]

Dr Craig was a police surgeon with 30 years experience so I assume he was very familiar with the widely used pain relieving drug morphine, which as I'm sure you know is derived from the opium poppy.  I assume he was also aware of  how it was produced and all the processes surrounding it ie licensed poppy farmers overseas.  By this I mean he would probably be aware it was grown overseas under licence so asked if WHF had a licence.  That's one explanation.  Another explanation, as per CAL's book although it's unsourced, is that JB told Dr Craig WHF had a licence:

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

Blue has one WS only from Dr Craig and there's no mention of opium poppies but he might have made other WS's which CAL had access to via the CT but as I said CAL hasn't quoted her source. 

Was it possible (and legal) that WHF had a licence to grow the poppies for an overseas pharmaceutical company?  As the Bambers were tenant farmers did they have complete autonomy over operations or did the trustees of the Henry Smith Charity have a say?  If the former was there anything that prevented NB negotiating, either directly or indirectly, with a foreign government/pharmaceutical company to farm opium poppies?  If the latter maybe NB was following instructions from the trustees.

As NB was a RAF pilot in WW2 I am sure he would be more familiar than most with many aspects of morphine.

Maybe sourced it from Wilkes (page 20) who didn't give a source either?

[APRIL]

He got the jitters and wanted to divert attention from the carnage he'd created?

Yeah, I can go with that....................'specially as it was the first thought to come to my mind

[Holly Goodhead]

One has to speculate on why, in the midst of mayhem, Jeremy felt the need to pick poppies.

Where's the evidence JB picked poppies on the morning of 7th Aug 1985?

[APRIL]

Where's the evidence JB picked poppies on the morning of 7th Aug 1985?

Dr Craig may "have made other witness statements which CAL had access too" which contained information regarding poppies?

[Caroline]

Dr Craig was a police surgeon with 30 years experience so I assume he was very familiar with the widely used pain relieving drug morphine, which as I'm sure you know is derived from the opium poppy.  I assume he was also aware of  how it was produced and all the processes surrounding it ie licensed poppy farmers overseas.  By this I mean he would probably be aware it was grown overseas under licence so asked if WHF had a licence.  That's one explanation.  Another explanation, as per CAL's book although it's unsourced, is that JB told Dr Craig WHF had a licence:

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

Blue has one WS only from Dr Craig and there's no mention of opium poppies but he might have made other WS's which CAL had access to via the CT but as I said CAL hasn't quoted her source. 

Was it possible (and legal) that WHF had a licence to grow the poppies for an overseas pharmaceutical company?  As the Bambers were tenant farmers did they have complete autonomy over operations or did the trustees of the Henry Smith Charity have a say?  If the former was there anything that prevented NB negotiating, either directly or indirectly, with a foreign government/pharmaceutical company to farm opium poppies?  If the latter maybe NB was following instructions from the trustees.

As NB was a RAF pilot in WW2 I am sure he would be more familiar than most with many aspects of morphine.

OK, so it did come from Jeremy then?

[Holly Goodhead]

Dr Craig may "have made other witness statements which CAL had access too" which contained information regarding poppies?

I believe you have CAL's book APRIL so you will be familiar with the notes and references section where CAL details her sources.  There's no source for her claim about JB explaining to Dr Craig WHF had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry.

[Caroline]

Where's the evidence JB picked poppies on the morning of 7th Aug 1985?

Ian Craig's witness statement from 01/10/1985 - you quoted it yourself.

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

The bunch of flowers episode sounds like an over dramatised attempt to fain shock.

[Caroline]

I believe you have CAL's book APRIL so you will be familiar with the notes and references section where CAL details her sources.  There's no source for her claim about JB explaining to Dr Craig WHF had a special licence to grow opium poppies for the pharmaceutical industry.

There is; Notes section Chapter 21 item 23.

[Holly Goodhead]

OK, so it did come from Jeremy then?

As far as I can see there's no evidence to support CAL's statement on page 179.  I personally wouldn't rely on it especially when she goes to great pains to provide sources.  Pages 426 - 462 detail all her sources. Why is there no source for the following?

Page 179:

 "He [JB] was carrying a small bunch of opium poppies when Dr Craig caught up with him.  Explaining that the farm had a special licence to grow them for the pharmaceutical industry..." 

I look for reliable evidence not unquoted sources from book authors. 

[Holly Goodhead]

There is; Notes section Chapter 21 item 23.

I believe that relates to the following statement:

"As DS Jones and Miller parked up in Page Lane, they spotted Jeremy walking towards the field.  He had spoken to Dr Craig about the supper table discussion ending in a row about the care of the twins, whom he described as 'ill treated by their mother'.23"

[Holly Goodhead]

Maybe sourced it from Wilkes (page 20) who didn't give a source either?

Where CAL has quoted from another author/book she has given that as her source. 

[Caroline]

I believe that relates to the following statement:

"As DS Jones and Miller parked up in Page Lane, they spotted Jeremy walking towards the field.  He had spoken to Dr Craig about the supper table discussion ending in a row about the care of the twins, whom he described as 'ill treated by their mother'.23"

It relates to the 'whole' section, that's how references work. It obviously all comes from the same statement which is why she has labelled it - there is no need to quote the same reference twice, unless another reference is quoted in between that breaks the chain of events.