Alston Frederick Hughes (aka Smiles) 1947-2025

Obituary for the beloved Microdot Gang distributor

Alston Frederick Hughes (aka Smiles)

Alston Frederick Hughes, aka Smiles, has sadly died at the age of 77, after a short illness.

Born in post WWII Manchester, Smiles spent his early years in the Band on the Wall pub and playing on the many bomb sites of the city. Smiles had a harsh childhood but decided at an early age that he wasn’t going to let an abusive childhood define who he was as a person. He embarked on a voyage of personal discovery that took him from the army at Chepstow Barracks (this was a ‘join up or be sent down’ arrangement) to the cannabis fields of Afghanistan.

Smiles was never destined to be part of a killing machine and after spending time in army jail (for going AWOL in order to see the Rolling Stones play in London) Smiles, like many people did of his generation, went ‘on the road’. He spent a couple of years traveling around England and Wales, going to festivals and sustaining himself with temporary work and a little cannabis dealing.

Following his discovery of LSD, which had a profound and lasting effect on his life and views, Smiles became heavily involved in the LSD manufacturing and dealing network which eventually became known as the Operation Julie Microdot Gang. During those years he lived in the small mid-Wales village of Llandewi Brefi, which he and his first wife, Mary, absolutely loved.

When the Microdot Gang was brought down by the forces of lawn order, Smiles was imprisoned for several years, after which he met and married his soul mate, Sally. They travelled extensively in India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. He did some light hash-smuggling over a decade or so, spending his winters in Goa and summers in London, where he dealt the hash to satisfied customers in various pubs.

After a period of time in Amsterdam in the 1990s, Smiles eventually retired from all aspects of drug dealing and, with Sally, returned to England, settling in a beautiful old house in deepest Shropshire. They grew organic fruit and veg, among other crops, surrounded by bird song and nature; Smiles also indulged in watching football and drinking his beloved Guinness.

Many publishers approached Smiles about a biography over the years, but he turned them all down, wanting it to be written by someone who was ‘experienced’. I was pleased and privileged that he allowed me access into all areas of his life in order to write In Search of Smiles.

In 2022, Smiles’ time as an acid dealer in Llandewi Brefi was brought to the stage in the successful musical, Operation Julie, which also enjoyed a short tour in 2024.

Several weeks ago Smiles was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of terminal lung cancer, which he faced stoically and with his usual sense of humour. When I last saw him on August 1st, Smiles was still as sharp and funny as ever. Although clearly uncomfortable, he didn’t appear to be in too much pain. However, he told me then he didn’t think it would be long before the end.

At 08.40 on Saturday 9th August, Smiles died peacefully and surrounded by love, at home, with his wife Sally and daughter Rachel at his side.

Above and beyond all his exploits in the world of LSD, Smiles was a man of great honesty and integrity, a man who distrusted authority in all its forms and who stood up for what he believed in. He was well loved by his family and close friends and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Smiles is survived by his wife Sally, daughter Rachel and grandson Eddie. We will not see his like again.

Smiles after the Operation Julie busts