Gillian and Wendy have hailed the legislation as ‘lifesaving’
Best friends Gillian Cunningham and Wendy Robinson, who became friends when growing up, have hailed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill as “lifesaving”. Gillian, from Pocklington, and Wendy, from Cleethorpes, started smoking as children, leading to decades-long addiction and serious health complications later in life.
Their experiences reflect the reality of many people who started smoking when they were young. More than four in five smokers start before the age of 20, and smoking is estimated to kill two in three long-term smokers, according to figures from The Centre for Excellence, a regional prevention programme funded by Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, working to address the three biggest killers – tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink.
Gillian started smoking when she was 11. Her dad suffered a heart attack caused by smoking and her mum later died from lung cancer.
At just 38, Gillian herself was diagnosed with COPD. She said: “Smoking was just everywhere.
“It was on the telly. In the shops. In our homes. At work. Grown-ups smoked. Friends smoked. Cigarettes were easy to get hold of, and no one stopped us. No one explained the risks in a way that made sense.
“This law isn’t about blaming people who smoke. We know how hard it is.
“Smoking isn’t a habit you just drop – it’s an addiction, usually picked up young, and reinforced every day for years. Most people who smoke wish they’d never started.”
Wendy started smoking when she was 12 as a way to fit in, with smoking normalised among family and friends around her. Over the years, smoking has affected not only the health of those closest to her, but also her own – with Wendy later being diagnosed with cancer twice.
She has since become the face of a regional campaign, Turn the Corner, encouraging people to quit smoking and helping prevent young people from ever starting. She said: “We started when we were kids. Proper kids. Too young to vote, too young to drive, too young to understand addiction, cancer, or what ‘long-term harm’ really means.
“Between us, smoking has caused cancer, serious lung disease, and the loss of people we love. We’ve sat in hospital rooms hearing words you will never forget.
“We’ve struggled to breathe. We’ve lived with fear about scans, appointments, and what might come next.
“We’ve watched family members suffer and die from something that never needed to be part of their lives. This Bill won’t change everything overnight, but it moves us in the right direction.
“It makes smoking less normal, less available, and less likely to trap another generation.” The landmark legislation became law after receiving Royal Assent last month.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will create a “smokefree generation” by making it illegal to sell products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The Yorkshire and Humber region has the highest smoking prevalence in England – 12.2 per cent, compared with the England average of 10.4 per cent.
Scott Crosby, associate director of the Centre for Excellence, said: “Wendy and Gillian’s stories are a powerful reminder that smoking is not a choice made with full understanding of the risks – it’s an addiction that often begins in childhood and leads to decades of harm. We welcome this legislation because it focuses on prevention, helping to stop future generations from ever starting smoking, while continuing to support smokers to quit.
“This has the potential to save thousands of lives across our region.” For help to quit smoking, including free support and nicotine replacement medication, visit YesToQuit.co.uk
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