Deadly smoking

SIR – While I usually observe the mantra of live and let live, I wholeheartedly agree with Professor Sir Chris Whitty in his drive to curb smoking (report, November 4).

He rightly observes that it is “an appalling way to die – it kills people in multiple ways”. For example, my father died at 48 with thrombosis and my mother should have died by cardiac arrest at 63 but struggled on for a few more years. My son passed away aged 52 with lung cancer and my younger sister died three years ago after a long illness with respiratory problems.

I am a fit 82-year-old and have never smoked.

Reginald RC Eaton

Hunstanton, Norfolk