Cancer victim Castle sways smoking ban vote (From Bucks Free Press)

Cancer victim Castle sways smoking ban vote

9:28am Monday 20th February 2006

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THE untimely death of TV star Roy Castle from passive smoking was a driving force behind the outright ban in the Commons last week, the Bucks Free Press can reveal.

The 61-year-old former presenter of TV show Record Breakers died in September 1994 at his home in Gerrards Cross after a long battle with lung cancer despite never smoking which he said was contracted by playing in smoky jazz clubs in his youth.

Now his battling widow Fiona Castle has revealed that she had written to 250 undecided MPs before Tuesday's free vote, urging them to vote for a complete ban which helped to sway the vote.

Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham, said: "I think it would have been in the equation when we voted, and I was talking about her in the tea room with several colleagues before the vote. Some people were saying there was no evidence of passive smoking, and I said what about Roy Castle?' There was a real debate among colleagues. She is fantastic and a great campaigner."

Mrs Gillan said she had previously voted to exempt private clubs, but after that was defeated, she voted for the total ban in the final round.

The ban was carried, and smoking will be banned in all indoor public areas including pubs, bars, restaurants and private members clubs next year.

Mrs Castle, 66, hailed the result as a great step forward. She said: "The amazing thing is that when Roy was first diagnosed with lung cancer 13 years ago nobody believed that passive smoking was a problem. We have come a long way.

"I am sure Roy would have been absolutely thrilled that people are at last taking notice."

The bill, expected to come into effect in the summer of next year, gives police the power to issue £50 fines to anyone caught smoking in banned places.

Mrs Castle added: "People may say it is a nanny state but the way I see it this is about people's health and it is affected every time someone lights up and puts a cigarette in their mouth. That is why we could not start making exceptions."

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