Lifelong Doncaster smoker quits in race against time

He's a 49-year-old grandad who smoked from the age of 17.

As a landscape worker, he is not someone you would expect to front a campaign urging the public to live longer.

And yet the Maltby man is the perfect choice. His story is one that people in the street will relate to.

Born in Doncaster and growing up in Thorne, Scott watched his own mother die from smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and went through so many roll-ups that he developed a racking cough.

Scott did not want his four children, two step children and four grandchildren, to witness him reduce his own chances of surviving after his 50th birthday.

The family man, who now lives with partner Natalie in the Birks Holt area of Rotherham told the Free Press why he quit: "My 50th birthday coming up in June was a part of my thinking. I don't want to cut my life short, I knew I hadn't helped myself.

"I had watched my mum die because of cigs. "I was at her bedside at Doncaster Royal Infirmary with other members of the family.

"We had tried and tried to get my mum to stop but she wouldn't.

"So I said to myself I was giving up: 'This is happening, I'm not doing this any more. I am not doing this to my kids.'

"I thought: 'I am not going to be the selfish one – I can stop when I want."

Seeking help, he was referred to BreathingSpace, in East Dene, which manages respiratory conditions.

He thought quitting cigarettes would be hard; he had smoked for three decades, at one point buying black market brands and pouches from a so-called street corner "Baccy Shop."

But the task of stopping was helped immeasurably when he was prescribed Varenicline, a medication that blocks the rewarding effects of nicotine on the brain, reducing cravings, and easing withdrawal symptoms.

He was also aided by a "smoking coach" called Sam, from Rotherham Healthwave.

"Sam was a big help; he breathalysed me to keep me accountable, they can tell from that if you've been smoking,” Scott said.

"He was never judgemental, just really supportive and helpful with tips on managing craving.

"Varenicline is fantastic, I would say it manages 90 per cent of cravings.

"For the other 10 percent, you have got to occupy yourself, and tell yourself the craving is going to pass.

"I would recommend the tablets to anybody thinking of stopping smoking. It might give you weird dreams, as a side effect! But it has helped me."

After changing his lifestyle in October, Sam asked Scott if he'd be interested in telling his story to others trying to follow his lead.

"I said yes if – it helps, I'd like to give a bit back. And for some reason people want to hear what I have to say!"

Ironically Scott's partner Natalie smokes, but the two make sure they are not in each other's company when she opens a packet.

"I don't want to be that guy to tell her to stop smoking, but I keep out of the way when she goes out for a cig.

"Natalie supports what I am doing. But smoking is her thing, she doesn't drink or anything, which was my mum's excuse… and that winds me up a little bit. I don't think I know anybody else that smokes.

"Maltby people smoke, maybe because it is a lower income area, lot of people still stand outside pub smoking.

"That probably happens more in ‘councily’ areas, not areas where people enjoy their lives."

Official figures suggest 152,000 people still have the habit in South Yorkshire, despite the effect on health and financial costs.

The average price of cigarettes in the UK is now around £16.70 a pack, with some as high as £20.

"That's a pound a cig," says Scott.

"All that money I have chucked away, it's a shame."

Scott has a simple message to those considering following his lead.

"Give it a go! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

"People think it is really hard but with the tablets available now, it is not as hard as it used to be. If I can do it anybody can – and I don't have a lot of willpower."