Just what very young man needed.

A couple of days ago I listened to a BBC radio programme in which James Naughtie examined the life of one of my personal heros, the epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll.

60 years ago, 80% of British adults were tobacco smokers but the figure is now nearer 20% thanks largely to the work of Richard, who in 1954 published the first scientific research paper proving the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. His dogged and determined research finally led governments world wide to challenge the obscene tobacco industry and to initiate a whole new era of public health management. He gave up smoking himself while doing the initial research in the 50's, which may have contributed to the fact that he lived to 92, long enough to witness the legislation to outlaw smoking in public places in Britain.

When I was a schoolboy we enjoyed a wide curriculum, from Latin to metalwork. One of the first objects that we made in the metal workshop was a copper ashtray - just what a young lad needed at a time when 80% of us would likely go on to be smokers.

Thankfully the foul weed has never passed my lips but over the years the ashtray has proved useful in many ways, and currently displays a colourful stone egg.