I can’t let a small but important anniversary pass unnoticed.
Ten years ago this week pub landlord Nick Hogan, jailed for six months after allowing smokers to light up in his pub, was released after spending eleven days in a Salford prison.
Nick’s release followed an online campaign, led by bloggers Anna Raccoon and Old Holborn, that raised almost £10,000 to secure his release.
The Telegraph has the story here (Landlord who defied smoking ban freed from jail after punters pay his fine) but the real drama took place behind the scenes.
First there was a desperate and rather sad attempt to hijack Anna and OH’s initiative.
Then there was a problem getting PayPal to release the money, which led to a frustrating delay in getting Nick released.
Last but not least, the authorities at HMP Forest Bank in Salford insisted that the money had to be delivered and paid in CASH!
You can read the full story via these posts:
Smoking ban costs landlord his liberty (February 27, 2010)
Free Nick Hogan - how you can help (March 1, 2010)
Nick Hogan featured on SunTalk (March 1, 2010
Nick Hogan in “violent” jail (March 1, 2010)
Get Nick out for No Smoking Day! (March 2, 2010)
Nick Hogan - every little helps (March 4, 2010)
Nick Hogan - target reached! (March 5, 2010)
Nick Hogan - free at last! (March 10, 2010)
Old Holborn - the money shot (March 10, 2010)
Nick Hogan - behind the scenes (March 11, 2010)
Nick Hogan - a “parable for our times” (March 15, 2010)
The following year Nick spoke at a Forest event that took place at the Cavern Club in Liverpool during the 2011 Labour conference.
The tenth anniversary of the smoking ban later prompted an interview with Nick in the Manchester Evening News, The only man ever jailed over the smoking ban has given up cigarettes... but he's not given up speaking his mind (July 1, 2017), which is worth reading.
And to prove that he’s still alive and kicking, Nick announced recently that Bury Conservative Association had selected him as a candidate in the local council elections (which have now been postponed until 2021).
As for that day in Salford, aside from David Hockney’s appearance at the Labour conference in Brighton in 2005, it is without doubt the most surreal thing I’ve ever been involved in.
Thanks, Nick!
H/T Old Holborn and the sadly deceased Anna Raccoon (aka Susanne Cameron-Blackie).
Below: Nick Hogan addressing a Forest event at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, September 2011
