“I gave up smoking on the 1st October 2012 with the NHS Champions for Health programme. I gave up from day one rather than cut down of the 6 month period. I gave up for a number of reasons, my wife died almost 4 years ago at the time my daughter was 14. Basically I wanted to be around to see her graduate in the future. I also indulge in a few sports, my main one is Fencing (Epee) and am part of the Welsh Veterans Fencing, so getting to fence for my country at my age I needed stay reasonable fit the older I get, so had to give up the smoking.”

“I must have been around 14 when I started to smoke, I am now 60 so I had been smoking for around 46 years. I consider myself lucky to be able to still run around after that much time smoking. There is also the financial cost. Since I gave up I should have saved over £2000.”