Thanks to Tony Hilder, secretary of The Freedom Association, for sharing some photos of me at their 50th Anniversary Dinner earlier this month.

As I mentioned at the time, I was delighted to be one of 70+ guests celebrating this significant milestone.

Much has been written about the French government’s decision to extend the country’s smoking ban to beaches, parks, and other outdoor areas.

To this I can add a brief eye witness account, sent by a supporter of Forest who is not only French but has just returned from a holiday in the south of France.

So, here we are again. The England women’s football team is in yet another final.

If you’re a football fan and don’t watch today’s game, I’ll repeat what I wrote before the Women’s World Cup final in 2023 – what the hell is wrong with you?!

Just back from a quick trip to Scotland to watch Dundee United play UNA Strassen of Luxembourg.

I drove to St Andrews and stayed not in a hotel but in a small self-catering apartment in my old school. Yes, you read that correctly.

Twenty years ago this month I visited Toronto for the first and only time.

The trip was prompted by work because at the time (2005) we were fighting the threat of a workplace smoking ban.

According to Cancer Research UK, an estimated 28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked in Britain each year.

On the back of this Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of ASH, and I were interviewed on GB News. According to Hazel, the fact that tobacco products are legal is “one of those weird freaks of history”.

Last week I was delighted to attend a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Freedom Association.

And given the advanced age of most of the guests, the medieval Baron’s Hall at Penshurst Place was arguably the perfect venue!

When I visited Gibraltar 13 years ago I was a bit sniffy about the place.

In truth I don’t remember a great deal apart from the fact that we arrived in port on a cruise ship. We then disembarked and walked to Main Street, the pedestrianised thoroughfare, which was crowded and, to my eyes, a bit grubby.