How can smoking possibly be indefensible when so many people choose to do it and enjoy it?”
Simon himself does not smoke. He describes himself as“ a tolerant non-smoker” who believes strongly in freedom of choice. After a career in public relations, lobbying and journalism, he took over as FOREST’ s Director in 1999- only its fourth director since it was founded, which perhaps indicates the organisation’ s staying power.
FOREST was founded in 1979 by the splendidly named Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris, a former Battle of Britain fighter pilot and lifelong pipe smoker who lived to be 86. It soon had a full-time director and a small number of full-time staff. Now based in Cambridge, it is funded by donations from the‘ Big Three’ UK tobacco companies- BAT, Imperial and JTI.
It is also backed by a Supporters Council whose members include the artist David Hockey, the Oscar-winning screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood and the musician Joe Jackson, who have all spoken out against harassment of smokers and excessive regulation.
Simon believes FOREST may be unique in the world, and puts its staying power down to being professionally run.“ Other smokers’ groups have come and gone,” he says.“ A similar group
The lunch was deliciously catered by Mark Grove and his team at Cook & Butler and we cracked along at a goodly pace. Our guests were admirably in the USA found it hard to late to book for this year’ s events introduced by Liveryman Fran Morrison and our achieve a significant presence in in June:‘ Smoke on the Water’, Principal Guest, Tim Wonnacott gave a generous and the media. Smokepeace, a loose the annual riverboat party on the very humorous reply to which I responded initially association of smokers’ rights Thames, and the‘ Freedom Dinner’ by drenching poor Tim in a glass of water- he was groups in Europe, most of them at Boisdale of Canary Wharf, very kind about it( sorry Tim!). I was very pleased run by volunteers, ultimately where the guest speaker will be the to show off the newly found Livery Grant of Arms collapsed. Our professional staff very funny and outspoken Sunday and Letters Patent which have been missing for many enable us to sustain fast responses Times columnist Rod Liddle. years- our Clerk tenaciously sought them out, and and professional media visibility, the new Immediate Past Master, Chris Allen, and his and our 38-year history gives us
But you can sign up for FOREST’ s IPM, Mark Gower-Smith have funded a beautiful representation and they forestonline are now. resplendent org / join-our-mailing- frames credibility.” mailing list at http:// www.
And FOREST is now carved spreading with tobacco list leaves / to be( or kept close informed to); Sandra about also its its wings further. It located has launched a huge banner activities not seen, and since to get 1985 ahead and of Angus the a chapter in Brussels Menzies, FOREST, Clerk to the queue Master for events Mariners next and year never! shy EU, to give smokers of a voice challenge in saw to it that it was displayed on the the European Union Quarterdeck and to put.
Fran Morrison consumers at the heart of the EU
Liveryman Whilst all this was going on, apparently biblicalstyle downpours were being had all over London legislative debate.
Guillaume Périgois-, oblivious Director to all that drama we ended our lunch of FOREST EU, says and it will trooped arm back to the quarterdeck where Coffee, consumers with information Cigars, and Cognac awaited us( I did mention that and resources for engaging our Livery with enjoyed dining on the High C’ s..) and politicians and regulators which. seemed Like to hit the mark – Liveryman Jemma FOREST in the UK Freeman, the EU had kindly provided the torpedo cigars chapter acknowledges and the had health had them placed in souvenir tubes with our risks, but says:“ If adults Crest emblazoned choose on it. Several of us also sported to smoke that’ s a matter a limited for them edition Livery Smoking hat- originally and no-one else. It conceived is not a public as a sort of shooting hat, it serves its health issue; it’ s a private purpose health so well as a“ team” hat, that of the twenty issue. We need a liberal ordered and, but one remained by the close of the day! pragmatic approach Thank to tobacco you to the Master Mariners for allowing us the that puts empathy above use of dogma the venue, to Tim for being a perfect Principal and takes account of Guest the, views and for of everyone attending and giving my ordinary citizens.” year FOREST such a EU special’ s start. website is at http:// forestonline. eu
Meanwhile, Simon says Tobacco Liverymen would be welcome at FOREST’ s annual events, which are great fun and, of course, smoker-friendly. Sadly, it’ s too
The Master
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