Paul and Chris walk tall
Saturday, August 11, 2007 
Good luck to Paul Toole and Chris Elliott, who are organising a protest march against the smoking ban in Glastonbury today. (Story HERE.)
Yesterday, I met the pair of them in Wells, which is where they held their first protest a few weeks ago. The event may have attracted 'only' 40 people, but in terms of media coverage it punched well above its weight. Hopefully, the Glastonbury march will do the same.
I admire people like Paul and Chris. It takes energy, determination and a lot of planning to organise an event like this. It also takes nerve. (How many people will turn up? How will the public respond? Will everything go according to plan?) Modest and unassuming, they deserve our support.
Simon Clark
Paul and Chris have just phoned to say that 80 people took part in the march, double the number in Wells. They were accompanied by a tobacco enforcement officer and an environmental health officer. Afterwards, 40 marchers went to a local pub and lit up in the skittle alley, which counts as an enclosed public place. As a result, Chris was handed a £30 fine by the tobacco enforcement officer who followed them to the pub, and the publican received a warning. According to Paul, the TEO then requested three Forest t-shirts - one for himself, the others for his two sons - and offered to donate £15 towards Chris's fine. You couldn't make it up!
Thanks to Ali, one of the marchers, for the picture of Chris (above left) with his ticket!
Protest
Reader Comments (9)
"40 marchers went to a local pub and lit up in the skittle alley, which counts as an enclosed public place."
Slight correction there Simon, not all of them were smokers as we were being supported by several non-smokers who feel just as strongly as us that everyone should have freedom of choice on such matters.
Congratulations to the marchers for standing up against this nasty, business-killing, soul-destroying, socially-disruptive ban. The organisers and marchers are heros in my eyes.
I was thinking over the weekend about the generations that came through the 1800s and the early 1900s - about the smog, the industrial pollution, the chimney smoke and (I imagine) an enormous of smoking.
How is it that these generations were so long-lived? Especially given that many also went through two World Wars.
Why are people today such moronic suckers and wimps? I know people who have children now who are scared to touch a door handle unless they actually see their parent spray it with an antibacterial first. What on earth are the government and media turning people into?
I wonder if Forest has ever drawn up a list showing what previous generations survived. It might help to put things into perspective.
Ahhhh - perspective. Does anyone remember that? It had a brother called 'common sense' and a sister called 'proportion'.
Big respect and admiration to Paul and Chris - Heroes indeed! and a big thank you to all of those that went on the march in support. first 40 then 80 perhaps we can keep doubling the figures and make it 160 next time. By the way where can i get some Forest T shirts??
Good luck and many thanks to Paul and Chris for the Glastonbury march. We joined the march as it passed through the high street (didn't know it was on) and were happy to be a part of a protest for smokers' rights, civil rights and common sense.
There was no respect and no compromise from the government over the smoking ban and many businesses will suffer or close as a consequence.
Outside seating at cafes and pubs is going to be no use in the cold and wet so it was a shame not to see more cafe owners and pub managers / landlords out there supporting the march. It was good to see some non-smokers there, appreciating the civil rights of smokers and also highlighting the issue of what rights we'll have taken from us next.
The smoking ban is a further attempt to undermine our communities by making more people stay at home, less inclined to socialise, particularly if the weather isn't good. Segregating parts of a community will mean less interaction and therefore less of a community - do the non-smokers really want that?
The givernment should stop treating us like 2nd class citizens while they're happy to take £9.5b pa from us in taxes.
Paul and Chris - any plans for a march outside no 10? This would get national media coverage and also might clarify the facts and figures which are under so much debate. Let us know if you do!
Yes, well done to the boys and the 80 ppl who marched with them. There next march is to be in Bristol and I'd hoped to join them but I'm out of the country on the two weekends being discussed :(
Hello, Well done everyone who went on the March. This Smoking Ban is utterly stupid. Yes I agree in Resteraunts. Many pubs are really feeling the pinch. What with a wet summer too. We have recently come back from Weymouth. And on talking to many pubilcans down there they are absolutley dreading the Autumn winter months. As customers will stay at home. We travelled by train and of course no smoking on or at the platforms at all. So now people will stand outside the stations and smoke outside. What a Wimpish country this is Why dont Network rail at least place Ashstray Bins fixed to a wall with sand in so that if any one is desperate they can at least be tidy? outside hotels and guest homes all along the front in weymouth ciggie ends HA HA HA HA !! regards Amandah
Please please please organise a march outside 10 downing street and I would certainly join you. I also hope that many publicans resturant proprietors and club owners and anybody else who disagrees with this ridiculous ban join you next time to make this march headline news.
Excellent news on the march. Hopefully there will be some closer to home I can join in the not too distant future.
In the meantime, if you haven't already, sign the petition at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/repeal-the-ban/
I hope they keep future marches nice and short mind. It wouldn't do to get too much fresh air, after all...