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FOREST PRESS RELEASE |
• Awards for Joe Jackson, David Hockney, Simon Cowell, Jack Dee, Jack
McConnell, Sir David Steel and others
• Message of support from multi-millionaire publisher Felix Dennis
 Writer
and musician Joe Jackson was last night awarded the title ‘Smokers’ Rights
Champion of the Year’ by smokers’ lobby group FOREST. The award, said FOREST, is
for Jackson’s persistence in repeatedly condemning the anti-smoking culture in
Britain, Ireland and America.
Simon Clark, director of FOREST, said, “Joe Jackson is a social smoker who
believes that smokers are being systematically demonised by politicians and the
medical profession. He is prepared to stand up and be counted and has been an
inspiration to many people, smokers and tolerant non-smokers alike. If more
people followed his example society would be a healthier place.”
The Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris Award, named after the group’s founder, a
lifelong pipesmoker who died aged 90 last year, was awarded jointly to the 14
celebrities who signed a letter to The Times calling on the government to reject
calls from the “anti-smoking minority” for a blanket ban on indoor public
smoking. Signatories included pop impresario TV presenter Chris Tarrant, artist
David Hockney, singer Lisa Stansfield, artist Maggi Hambling, Spectator editor
Boris Johnson, Oscar-winning playwright Ronald Harwood and writer Simon Gray.
Other awards included Cigarette Smoker of the Year (pop impresario Simon Cowell),
Cigar Smoker of the Year (comedian Jack Dee), and Pipesmoker of the Year (Lord
Harris of High Cross, former general director of the Institute of Economic
Affairs).
Tom Utley of the Daily Telegraph was awarded the title ‘Smoker-Friendly
Journalist of the Year’. It was presented by Sean Bellew of Boisdale Restaurants
and Bars who sponsored this year’s FOREST Awards.
Nominations for ‘Anti-Smoker of the Year’ included London Mayor Ken Livingstone
and Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, but the winner was Scotland’s
First Minister Jack McConnell for announcing that a ban on smoking in all indoor
public places, including private clubs, would be introduced in Scotland from
March 2006. The award was accepted on his behalf by Brian Monteith MSP, a former
spokesman for Scottish FOREST.
‘Corporate Anti-Smoker’ award went to the pub chain JD Wetherspoon which
recently announced that it would ban smoking in all its 650 pubs by May 2006.
Said Clark: “Wetherspoon are fully entitled to choose a policy on smoking that
best suits their business and we have no argument with their decision to ban
smoking. We strongly disagree however with their demand for a ban on smoking in
every other pub and restaurant in order to create a so-called level playing
field. If we can respect their
decision they should respect the rights of their competitors to choose their own
policy on smoking.”
‘Tobacconist of the Year’ was won by Jeremy Cole representing G Smith and Sons
of Charing Cross Road, London. Mr Cole received his award from Phillip
Shervington of the Association of Independent Tobacconists.
‘Pro-Choice Campaigner of the Year’ was awarded to Blackpool-based Rod Bullough
of the new Freedom2Choose campaign.
Book of the Year was ‘The Smoking Diaries’ by Simon Gray, which has just been
published in paperback.
Quote of the Year went to David Hockney. Commenting on the New York smoking ban,
Hockney said, "It's bonkers. I don't want Bossyboots Bloomberg or his pathetic
band of peasant supporters telling me how to live. I was born and spent the
first 20 years of my life in one of the smokiest cities on earth - Bradford,
Yorkshire. Some die young, some die old. The harsh truth is that the cause of
death is birth, so enjoy life."
The FOREST Annual Awards, hosted by TV chef and restaurateur Antony Worrall
Thompson, at The Groucho Club in Soho, also featured a special message from
multi-millionaire publisher Felix Dennis. A chain smoker who divides his time
between London and New York, Dennis said:
“A very substantial minority of people in Britain smokes. We are all agreed that
our pleasure should not be inflicted upon our neighbours. We are all agreed that
there should be smoking bars and non-smoking bars — and pubs, restaurants,
railway carriages, aircraft cabins and other enclosed spaces.
“But the government, using dubious data concerning the dangers of passive smoke,
which has been scientifically contradicted again and again, wishes to go
further. Our government wishes and is planning, eventually, to dictate to an
elected people that they may not smoke at all.
“I support FOREST in its fight to bring a modicum of common sense and respect
for minorities to the debate on smoking in public. FOREST is fighting for the
rights not only for smokers, but of non-smokers, too, when it challenges petty
minded bureaucrats, arrogant ministers and hoarders of un-elected 'specialists'
whose only response to anything of which they disapprove is to say 'Thou Shalt
Not'!”
Other messages of support were read out including one from Lord Lamont, former
Chancellor of the Exchequer, who wrote: “All good luck to FOREST in its campaign
and opposition to these nanny state missives.”
Scottish FOREST awards went to Lord Steel of Aikwood (Sir David Steel), former
Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament (‘Scottish Smoker of the Year’), Paul
Waterston, spokesman, Scottish Licensed Trade Association (‘Pro-Choice
Campaigner of the Year’), and Herbert Love (‘Scottish Tobacconist of the Year’).
For further information telephone FOREST on 07071 766537 or 07774 781840
FOREST Press Office
6th Floor
33 Margaret Street
London W1G 0JD
Email: contact@forestonline.org
Web: www.forestonline.org |
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NEWS RELEASE | Tuesday 22 February 2005
