Luncheon with the stars

I shall be at Lords Cricket Ground today but not to watch cricket. I have been invited to the Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists’ annual lunch. The event starts at noon with a champagne reception, followed by lunch at 1.00pm, finishing around 4.00pm.

Guest speaker is, er, Bobby Davro. Last year it was Carol Thatcher, and the year before that George Galloway. In 2007 Boris Johnson was the speaker but I missed the event that year. If I remember, though, it sparked suggestions that Boris was in cahoots with the tobacco lobby. I wish!!

In recent years the AITS lunch has replaced the rather more glittering Pipesmoker of the Year event that used to take place at The Savoy. Unfortunately, after 40 years, the organisers were beginning to run out of household names to whom they could give the title.

Having awarded it to the likes of Eric Morecambe, Patrick Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Barry Norman, Ian Botham, Tony Benn, Ranulph Fiennes and Trevor Baylis, the decision to pull the plug was made following the 2002 event when the title was given to a member of the Dunhill family.

The final Pipesmoker of the Year award was presented to Stephen Fry in 2003 who gave a very funny speech so at least it went out on a high note.

The bizarre thing is, having moved the AITS lunch to Lords, they haven't used a single cricketer (or cricket broadcaster) as the guest speaker. Shane Warne? Allan Lamb? Come on, guys, check this list HERE.