Forest - the first 30 years
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 Forest was founded in 1979. This year therefore is our 30th anniversary. The first smokers' rights group in the world, Forest was founded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris, a distinguished World War II pilot who became the RAF's commander-in-chief in Germany and later chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Pilots' Association and vice-president of the Royal United Services Institute.
Sir Christopher was the first chairman of Forest. A pipesmoker, he died in 2003, aged 86. He was succeeded in 1987 by Lord Harris of High Cross, another pipesmoker, who retained the position until he died in 2006, aged 81.
In its 30-year history there have been just four executive directors: Stephen Eyres (1981-1990), Chris Tame (1990-1995), Marjorie Nicholson (1995-1998) and me. Several people (Marjorie among them) worked for Forest in some capacity for at least ten years. The record, I think, is 13.
There's something about Forest - and the smoking debate in general - that gets under the skin and makes it difficult to walk away. I don't know what it is, but it becomes less of a job and more of a crusade. It drives you crazy (at times) and it's relentless because the war on tobacco never stops. But there have been some marvellous moments which make it worthwhile.
Later in the year we will mark the anniversary with one or two special events. Plans currently include a parliamentary reception, a one-day symposium, a prohibition party (similar to our hugely successful event at the 2006 Conservative conference), and a gala dinner incorporating the 30th Anniversary Forest Awards.
For further information sign up HERE. Or watch this space.
Reader Comments (5)
Congratulations to Forest for 30 years of excellent work and for keeping the momentum going and never flagging and congrats to Simon for taking up the torch especially in these dangerous and uncertain times and especially for giving us the opportunity to vent our spleen on this forum in such a user friendly way. Bless.
Congratulations, Simon, to Forest and thank you for your thankless task.
Are you to be allowed to grow old disgracefully: get the gloves off and give as good as you get?
am i living in a fantasy land or did forest
send a newsletter out by mail 15 or more years ago ??? i lived in northern ireland at the time
Simon, are you not being a little modest here, is it not 10 years to the month you have been at Forest? That is my understanding, so well done.
Simon thanks for keeping up the fight/defence. Good luck with your events for this year. I would try to attend some but guess what you can't smoke at any of them and I am not standing out in the cold. Eating, drinking and smoking all go together in my book so I wouldn't enjoy a smokeless meal! Good luck anyway though.