An East Yorkshire couple who both began smoking at the age of 12 have finally given up after taking part in a ground-breaking new trial. Grandparents Linda Brown and Terry Osborne were given the opportunity to take part in a new study after undergoing lung health checks.
Through YorQuit, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, the couple, who have been together for 30 years, were offered stop smoking support. They are now sharing their experience to highlight the difference this approach can make to people across the region.
In January 2026, Linda and Terry, both 70-years-old, were among those invited to take part in the study after attending a lung health check in Hull. Both had smoked since they were young.
Smoking since 12
Terry said: “My father and my grandfather were fishermen, and in our community everyone smoked, whether it was down at the docks, the pub or in the home. I was 12-years-old when I began taking spare papers from my dad’s drawer so I could roll my own tobacco. It was just part of growing up.”
Linda also started smoking at the same age. She said: “I also smoked my first cigarette when I was 12. It was the girl next door who invited me to come along to the youth club and meet her friends, where they all encouraged me to give it a go. It horrifies me now to think I started so young, but back then, we didn’t understand how damaging smoking could be to our health.”
New data published this month shows the smoking rate in Yorkshire remains the highest in England, with around half a million adults who smoke. Since 2024, the proportion of people who smoke in the region has fallen from 12.2% to 11.3%, however, this decrease is at a slower pace than the national average.
Hull has highest smoking rate
Hull has the highest smoking rate of anywhere in the country, with 1 in 5 adults who smoke. Shockingly, more people in Hull are diagnosed with and die from lung cancer than anywhere else in Yorkshire.
Led by Professor Rachael Murray, the YorQuit study is a clinical trial investigating the most effective ways to help people quit smoking following a lung health check through the NHS targeted lung cancer screening programme.
Launched in 2024, the trial aims to involve around 2,000 people who would like to stop or reduce their smoking by testing different methods to help them quit, including using a digital app, telephone calls from a specialist advisor and offers of incentives. So far, the trial has provided vital support to hundreds of people in Hull.
Withdrawal
Linda said: “Terry tried for two months in his early 40s and in 2024, I managed to go 51 days smokefree. However, we both had a very hard time with the withdrawal symptoms, and neither of us had access to the right support to keep us going.
“I was pulled back into the habit when my sister became very ill. My coughing used to keep me up at night, and I found it very difficult to clear my throat, no matter how many times I tried. I’d been having trouble with the circulation in my leg, and even had pneumonia, which was really scary.
“But what motivated me more than anything was my grandchildren, Lucas and Lilly. They had been asking us both to quit. Watching them grow up so fast made me realise I wanted to live as long as I could for them.”
The YorQuit study aims to show how combining stop smoking support with lung cancer screening can help address these inequalities. By reaching communities with higher smoking rates, this approach can help ensure those who have an increased risk of developing cancer can access the stop smoking support they need.
After receiving their lung health check, Linda and Terry were given the opportunity to take part in YorQuit to test.
Vaping
Having experienced problems with her health, Linda was immediately interested in taking part in the YorQuit study and Terry was determined to join her. Terry said: “I originally started off with nicotine replacement patches, but I didn’t quite take to them, so the stop smoking team suggested I try using a vape.
“It has been very effective. My advisor was absolutely amazing. Having that regular contact from someone who was invested in my health helped me stay focused. The support through the YorQuit trial made such a difference.”
Research shows people are up to three times more likely to quit for good with specialist behavioural support and stop smoking treatment. Linda and Terry were both assigned to a research group receiving regular telephone support from a dedicated team of stop smoking advisors, alongside access to stop smoking aids. In her group, Linda was also given a voucher designed as an incentive to quit.
Linda said: “The first few days using the vape were challenging, but with the support of the advisor, it did get easier and easier. Both Terry and I started on the highest nicotine dose, and after 13 weeks we went down to the lowest one. Finding the right support and the right treatment was absolutely key.
“I understand why the incentive might help encourage some people to quit, but for me, the calls from the advisor were the biggest factor in helping me succeed.”
Health benefits
Six months after the couple stopped smoking, they are experiencing many benefits with their health. Happily retired and living in the village of Halsham, East Yorkshire, they spend their time gardening, enjoying family life and spending time with their two grandchildren.
Terry said: “Physical activity used to make me quite breathless, but now I feel fitter and more energised. It’s been very helpful the last few months while we’ve been moving house. With my newfound energy, I was able to put up a new shed in the garden with our grandson. Being smokefree is already giving us those lovely days together.”
Linda and Terry’s achievement has also been celebrated by the whole family. For Lilly, their 14-year-old granddaughter, her grandparents no longer smoking means more happy weekends and trips together.
‘I breathe easy’
Linda added: “Now I’ve stopped smoking, I no longer wheeze when I’m going to sleep. I lay down at night and I breathe easy. We’ve both been exercising a lot more too, going to the gym to swim and cycle. One of my hobbies is making big cement pots out in the garden, so I’ve been feeling less tired while doing what I love.”
“Most importantly, we’ve helped to reduce our risk of developing cancer. We’re both 70 now, so anything we can do to make sure we’re healthier for longer is worth it. Seeing how proud our grandchildren are now we’ve quit smoking means everything to me.
“Family is the most important thing to us, and thanks to Yorkshire Cancer Research and the YorQuit stop smoking study, we’re going to be able to make more memories together. If you’re invited to take part in the study, I’d strongly encourage you to give it a go. We’ve done something we never imagined to be possible.”
Professor Rachael Murray, Chief Investigator on the YorQuit study, said: “The prevalence of lung cancer in Yorkshire remains far too high, which is why it’s so important we make lung screening and stop smoking support an integrated package.
“As the experiences of Linda and Terry show, if we can provide that high-quality stop smoking support following a lung health check, we can help more people in Yorkshire become smokefree. We’re grateful to Yorkshire Cancer Research for funding the YorQuit study and we’re excited to continue exploring the best ways to deliver this life-saving support.”
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