Strange? Sorry ASH, but I'd stub that word out right away
A few weeks ago in this column I pondered on what still constituted good value in these challenging economic times and included a reference to pipe smoking as a cost-effective alternative to cigarettes.
Predictably, the heavy cosh of the anti-smoking organisation ASH descended.
Firing off a letter to this paper's editor and slapping me firmly on the wrist, they went on to outline the evils of puffing on a briar.
But interestingly, before detailing the health message that has been drummed into us a thousand times before, ASH's opening salvo had nothing to do with concern for our wellbeing, but everything to do with the fact that smoking a pipe nowadays would attract strange looks from people. Oh really?
So, in this age of health fascism and organisations dictating how we should live our lives, I thought I would take a closer look at the pipe and its positive impact on society over the years.
For our second 'proper' date I took Mrs B to one of the most inclusive and diverse events I have witnessed, which took place at Ascot racecourse on a rainy Sunday in 2001: The World Pipe Smoking Championship.
Nobody there was remotely bothered about looking strange.
There were 212 entrants from all over the world taking part.
There was no trouble, no cultural or political divide, just like-minded folk popping some shag into their bowl, lighting up and attempting to puff their way to victory.
Each entrant was given a pipe, three grams of tobacco, two matches and a wooden tamper.
The objective is to see how long an individual or team can keep their pipe/s alight for.
The winner was a Czech gent who stormed to victory with a time of just under three hours.
The winning lady (from Italy) was 50 minutes short of the Czech achievement.
Pipe smoking is clearly a global activity and not remotely strange.
As for famous pipe smokers, the list is vast and varied. A random name check includes our very own Patrick Moore, cricketing legend Ian Botham, former boxer Henry Cooper, politician Tony Benn, adventurer Ranulph Fiennes, inventor of the wind-up radio Trevor Bayliss and that most witty of wits Stephen Fry.
All of these fine upstanding gentlemen have received the coveted 'Pipe smoker of the Year' award from the British Pipe smoker's Council.
Look at history and you will find that some amazing minds took much pleasure in their pipes – Albert Einstein, JS Bach, John Coltrane, CS Lewis, Evelyn Waugh, Mark Twain, Bertrand Russell and JRR Tolkien to name but a few.
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson was a pipe smoker and was rarely seen without his briar in pictures and on film.
However, some believe this was purely a prop to promote and strengthen his working-class image, as behind closed doors his tobacco of choice was a cigar.
No doubt ASH would have found that strange too.
I am certainly not advocating pipe smoking as a healthy pastime.
The damage done by tobacco is well documented but I resent anyone criticising an activity for being 'strange'.
Pipe smokers are people with immense individuality – something that is sadly lacking in today's cloned and uniformed society.
So put that in your pipe and smoke it!
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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