A Stockport musician from the band Dutch Uncles is to be the face of a new campaign to Make Smoking History across Greater Manchester.
Residents from Stockport are being given the chance to play their part in making history, as Greater Manchester bids to be the first place in the world to Make Smoking History within a decade.
Dutch Uncles band member Robin Richards, originally from Marple, Stockport, wants to encourage the largest ever response to a public engagement about tobacco harm.
One in eight people still smoke in Stockport, and the two biggest killers in Stockport are cardiovascular disease and cancer, both closely linked to smoking.
People from Stockport are urged to have their say in a ‘History Makers’ survey to Make Smoking History – from the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership
Dutch Uncles bass guitarist making history
Robin, 30, a huge Stockport County fan and self-employed musician works as a composer, performer and bass guitarist in the band Dutch Uncles. Robin has been chosen to front the new campaign as he passionately believes that all boroughs and communities need to work together to make Stockport and Greater Manchester smoke free.
Robin said:
I felt this was a great initiative to be involved in, as I’d like to help make a difference and see the end of the potentially deadly effects of smoking and passive smoking.
“There are still specific places that I see people smoking more, and I believe introducing specific smoke-free zones in some locations would be really beneficial. The issue of smoking needs to be addressed directly and talked about openly.”
People are being asked to give their views about the plan to radically cut adult smoking and deliver a tobacco free generation through a whole range of local actions, including extending smokefree places and licensing tobacco retailers.
The History Makers survey also asks people to voice their opinion on whether tobacco companies should pay a ‘polluter levy’ for the devastation that their addictive products cause to individuals, families and communities.
Smoking remains a childhood addiction, with the vast majority of smokers starting as children and teenagers.
Councillor Tom McGee, Stockport Council’s Cabinet member for Health said:
The numbers of smokers in Stockport continues to fall. However in some parts of the borough smoking levels remain stubbornly high resulting in poor health and early death for far too many. We want to hear the views from Stockport residents as to how best we can tackle this problem.”