A new, fortnightly column by Ted Sherrell, councillor and author, musing on life in his own inimitable fashion . . .

WE live in an age when minority groups — correctly — demand their rights; often other people in the community give support to this, sometimes in aggressive fashion, occasionally even beyond the law.

There are animal rights activists, eco-warriors, Green Peace, activists for gay and lesbian rights, pensioners fighting for a better deal, 'shelter' fighting for the homeless, anti-hunt activists, the 'Countryside Alliance' fighting for the rural way of life, dedicated folk defending the beleaguered hedgehog, determined groups treading lonely, sometimes treacherous terrain to establish legal footpaths and the 'right to roam'.

There are folk who form groups to stop 'fracking', others who will mount campaigns against wind farms; indeed, there is the occasional body of people who come together with positivity in mind — they actually want to create something. Thus many anti-groups are confronted by those in favour, which often can lead to conflict and the intervention of the forces of law and order.

So, the reality of modern life is that the people of this country — sizeable numbers, at any rate — spend time fighting for causes, such as those already mentioned plus numerous others covering the full spectrum of human experience, from caring for the neglected orphans of Romania to the extinction of the white rhino, from the destruction of the Amazon rain forests to the preservation of the Cornish language.

Yet in this nation of caring, conscientious, compassionate people there is a group — granted a minority, though a very sizeable one — apparently forsaken by all those warriors battling for the oppressed, the vulnerable, the downtrodden.

It is not easy to fully understand why this is so, for they are not invisible, not out of sight in any way. True, in summertime they tend to be less conspicuous; when on the streets when the weather is good, they will blend to a certain extent with other citizens going about their legitimate business.

In winter though, especially on a foul day — not rare here in West Devon and East Cornwall — their presence surely cannot be beyond the awareness of even the most unobservant among us. They will be seen at the entrance to pubs — on occasions with a glass in hand — outside offices and public buildings, business premises and, sometimes in the precincts of churches.

In winter they are not easy to identify as often they huddle together for warmth, while even individually, their faces are often difficult to see as they will have coats up around their ears, perhaps hoods or hats on their heads.

Those in groups could be conspirators planning some nefarious escapade of public disorder — those stood in solitary misery often appear to have been banished from the bosom of civilised society.

But what, one might ask, are these men and women (for the genders are probably evenly proportioned to the casual observer) actually doing in their seemingly depressed occupancy of our windswept streets and alleys?

Close observation will reveal all, for no matter how strong the wind, or lashing the rain, wisps of smoke can usually be seen rising towards the turbulent skies. These are not people plotting mischief, not idlers or malcontents of any kind — they are honest folk indulging in a thoroughly legal occupation, paying vast amounts of tax into the national exchequer which helps to keep down the amount the Inland Revenue takes from the rest of us; yet they are pushed to the margins of society.

As a life-long non-smoker (not through any ideological reasons; rather I always preferred to spend my money on drink), I have no 'axe to grind' either way. I do feel, though, that the hapless, beleaguered smoker is treated unfairly — perhaps even callously — by the law and society alike.

It is time a 'smokers' rights' pressure group was set up — or, taking a different tack, perhaps a 'friends of smokers' society. Being of a lazy disposition, I've not the slightest intention of starting one but if somebody else does, then I would join it — as long as no membership fee is involved, of course.