Members

Paul is the PCoLeb's president and a life member of the Pipe Club of London since 1994. Born in 1966 in Hazmieh, Lebanon, he completed his Ph.D. in American Studies from Nottingham University (UK) and is currently Associate Professor of American Studies at Notre Dame University (N.D.U.), Lebanon. He began smoking at the age of 15 and has a collection of more than a hundred pipes. He has vowed to stop buying pipes but the sight of a beautiful briar has proved to be too much to resist. His favourite tobacco is Dunhill's My Mixture 965 and Esoterica's Penzance and And So to Bed.

Tarek is the PCoLeb's vice-president and a life member of the Pipe Club of London since 1994. Born in 1968 in Ashrafieh, Lebanon, he is happily married with two children. A heavy smoker, Tarek is also known as the "human chimney." His favourite tobacco is Captain Black's Cherry. His 14 pipes are a testimony to his attachment to the craft.

Fares is the PCoLeb's Personnel Officer. Born in 1980 in Hazmieh, Lebanon, Fares graduated in Interior Design at L.U.C. in Hazmieh and is now working as artisan glassware maker. After smoking the pipe for five years, he is the owner of 10 pipes; he mainly smokes Mac Baren's Vanilla Flake and Cherry.

Salim is the PCoLeb's accountant and treasurer. Born in 1981 in Hazmieh, Lebanon, he received his Licence in Business Computer from the Lebanese University. He is now working as trademarks head of team in an intellectual property company. Salim began smoking in 1999 and is the proud owner of 15 hand-picked pipes. His favourite tobacco is Davidoff's Danish Mixture, and his favourite pipe is the Stanwell Bamboo featured in the photo above. A truly dangerous smoker, Salim has won two PCoLeb's pipe smoking competitions so far (see Events for details).

Elie was the PCoLeb's web designer. Born in 1981 in Shiyah, Lebanon, he studied Computer and Communications Engineering at the American University of Beirut (A.U.B), and is now doing his Master's degree in Germany. Beginning in 2000, he has not stopped ever since, happily smoking his two pipes, a Savinelli meerschaum and a Stanwell freehand. He enjoys smoking Mac Baren's Vanilla Flake.

Marc, a friend of the PCoLeb's members for years, finally decided to join in order to experience the joys of pipesmoking in a congenial environment. Marc is studying Marketing at Notre Dame University, Lebanon, and owns two pipes already, a Stanwell and a Butz-Choquin. Marc believes that pipesmoking allows people to think about issues in a more relaxed and also clearer manner. Marc is currently smoking Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe and Mac Baren's Standard Mixture.

Gihad Abi-Rached, born in Beirut, studied Political Sciences but found himself rather in the world of art. He is the owner and president of two companies specializing in curtain design, Komach and Khamiya. It is no surprise, therefore, that he was attracted to pipesmoking and the fine lines of handmade pipes. Gihad, upon first smoking the pipe and participating in the fifth PCoLeb's Annual Pipesmoking Competition, was pleasantly surprised by the ambience pervading pipesmoking in general and the PCoLeb in particular. In his own words: "Amazing! No talk of politics, no talk of work, only the peaceful, relaxing, care-free enjoyment and news of pipes, pipe-makers, and pipe tobaccos. The perfect hobby!" Gihad is seen in the picture smoking a new Peterson, and his journey began with Mac Baren's Virginia Flake and Davidoff's Danish Mixture.

Jihad Asmar started smoking the pipe after attending a few meeting of the PCoLeb, and quickly discovered a new passion. Jihad describes his experience with his first bowl: "When I smoked my first pipe, I was very angry, and suddenly, it was like magic; I felt immediately more comfortable, and it was really a great feeling I had never experienced before." Within a couple of months, Jihad had sampled half a dozen tobacco brands, and is now the happy owner of three pipes. Intent on becoming a serious pipesmoker, he is ardently initiating himself into the secrets of the noble art.

This section is dedicated to overseas members who are not able to "physically" join the PCoLeb but who have shown genuine interest in the club. We at the PCoLeb feel that these friends should be part of our pipesmoking family and we warmly welcome them!

Pedro started his association with the PCoLeb in July 2004 when he graciously offered to translate into Spanish our "The Way of the Pipe" booklet and thus gave his own Spanish philosophical touch to our text. Ever since that time, he has accompanied us as we grew and periodically sent new links, ideas, tips, and other goodies our way. Pedro, 39, lives on the Canary Islands with his wife and daughter, and a canine companion, a great Westie (West Highland White Terrier). Pedro sells and repairs computers and is a seasoned pipesmoker. Other than his collection of Petersons and Stanwells, he favours the Spanish pipe makers like Martin, Baulenas, and Bonet. His favourite tobaccos must contain Latakia, so it is not surprising that he likes Dunhill's Early Morning and My Mixture 965, as well as Balkan Sobranie. A well-filled pipe, a family environment, inspiring music, and a good book make his day. Visit Pedro's page in our Links section.

Toufic lives in New York and was happy to discover that there was a pipe club in his beloved country, Lebanon. He is a serious pipesmoker and collector and owns more than 200 hand-picked pipes, and his search for the ultimate briar is continuing. Toufic shares the PCoLeb's passion for the "philosophical" side of pipesmoking and says: "Pipes and pipe smoking are for me a kind of therapy. A very soothing one at least. What appeals mostly to me about smoking the pipe is carefully choosing a briar pipe from my collection for the moment, delicately loading the bowl, puffing and tamping my favorite Virginia tobacco with a hint of Latakia." Toufic likes to recall his first pipe, a Dunhill prince, bought in 1983. Since then his collection has grown to include favourite pipes made by Ser Jacopo, Castello, Dunhill, Charatan, and Upshall.

Jose's grandparents left Lebanon in 1907 to settle in Argentina; little did they know that their grandson would make the link back to his ancestors' land through a pipe club! Jose is a public accountant and executive director of a company. Besides smoking pipes, Jose is also a fan of classic cars. To him, pipesmoking is a wonderful activity, the "beginning of an experience that introduces people to a world of pleasure, aroma, and helps them reflect about life and things." As all the members of the Pipe Club of Lebanon, and as all serious pipesmokers for that matter, Jose is interested about the more "spiritual" side of the briar. His favourite pipes are Stanwells, Comoys, BBBs, and Petersons, and his favourite tobaccos are Dunhill's My Mixture 965, Rattray's Accountant's Mixture (obviously!), Balkan Sobranie, Erinmore, and Condor.

Jorge García was born in Montevideo City, Uruguay, and is still working there as an electrician, computer technician, and programmer. An avid pipesmoker, Jorge has been smoking for almost 20 years and regularly puffs six pipes a day! His collection boasts no less than 55 pipes which he fills with Mac Baren Navy Flake, Capstan Mild Navy Cut, and Erinmore Flake. Now we know who to contact when we have problems with flake tobacco! Jorge, whose favourite pipes are Aldo Velanis, Savinellis, Brebbias, and Petersons, believes that a pipe is the ideal companion for a variety of daily moments, whether at work or at home relaxing with a good book or thinking about the thorny questions that arise in one's life. To him, a pipe makes the good moments better and more beautiful, and mitigates the bitterness of the bad moments, making them less painful. Jorge is, in addition, the founder of the Club de Pipafumadores Uruguay 2001.

Luis McIntyre, Jose Luis Manzur's friend, is originally from Scotland; his grandfather came to Argentina in 1920 and the family has settled there ever since. Luis is in his second year studying Public Relations, and as a pipesmoker he is on his way to making good and trustworthy friends all over the world! His favourite pipe is a BBB, and he smokes Captain Black, Capstan, and W.O. Larsen Mellow Mixture.

Guillermo Ruizlimón, from Mexico City, is a visual artist who paints and works as a teacher, and the founder and president of a pipe club in his city. His best companion is his trusted pipe, especially when reading. Guillermo believes that the brotherhood found among pipesmokers is truly a great thing, and also the reason why we should "keep on puffing." The pipe, in addition, is a beautiful object which cannot be ignored or put aside lightly; aesthetically, this "something extra" is not found in any other form of tobacco use. Guillermo is here pictured holding an English Stadium pipe that belonged to his elder brother who, when in high school, smoked a favourite cherry blend. Guillermo's preferred tobacco is Mac Baren's famous Mixture/Scottish Blend.

Patrick Brain lives in London and is a true professional, both in his smoking performance and in his collection of more than 200 pipes! A Minister of Religion and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Patrick is by calling a person who looks at points of similarities rather than differences, the mark, indeed, of a genuine pipesmoker. Patrick smokes a pipe because "it is one of the nearest things on earth to heaven," and smoking "gives a sense of peace and tranquility and calms and soothes the soul." Patrick also believes that "the brotherhood and sisterhood of pipe smokers is truly international and that there are no barriers of race, colour, religion or creed" between pipesmokers. A lover of Balkan Sobranie, now sadly unavailable, Patrick is happy to experience the pleasures offered by the best tobaccos on the market.

Pablo is a Chilean pipesmoker from Arica and a member of the Santiago de Chile Pipe Club; a senior university student, Pablo is also a radio speaker, tour leader, and English translator! An outspoken defender of civil liberties, Pablo was among the first to express genuine sympathy with the PCoLeb's plight during the July-August 2006 war against Lebanon. To Pablo, we are living "in a globalized world where everything goes so fast and everybody seems to be disposable," but "taking the time to connect with oneself through the smoke of the pipe is something which rebuilds the strength to fight for being a unique individual in this world." Sympathy, brotherhood, uniqueness: three concepts that make of Pablo a serious candidate for the long and pleasurable journey towards the perfect pipe! Pablo smokes Amphora Full Aroma and is keen on trying more exotic tobaccos as the opportunity arises.

Garry lives in Worcestershire, UK, and is a law enforcement officer. A smoker for more than twenty years, Garry is also the chairman of the John Hollingsworth pipe club of Birmingham. The photo above shows him hosting the Norfolk Open Pipesmoking Championship in 2006. Garry is married with one daughter, and his hobbies include reading, shooting, football, and, of course, pipesmoking. Taking some time out from his more active everyday commitments, Garry is keen on furthering overseas relationships with the "like-minded Brethren of the Briar," and learning "from their experience in pipesmoking and pipemaking." A serious smoker, Garry's favourite tobacco is Mac Baren's Vanilla, a tobacco popular with more than one PCoLeb member.

Ted, known to his pipe-smoking friends as "T-Bear," is a mechanical design drafter from Missouri, U.S.A., and has been smoking the pipe since he was 16. A proud grandfather to twenty-four grandchildren, Ted is now learning the fine art of pipecarving. The freehand pipe in the photo above is his creation, so make no mistake, the man knows his pipe inside out! Ted believes that as the world is getting smaller, one's duty, especially a pipesmoker's, is to know one's neighbours better. Pipes and tobacco are "a cultural focal point that people of all cultures, races or religions can relate to and use as a common ground for understanding." From knowing comes understanding, and from understanding comes the feeling of brotherhood to all, so dear to the brothers and sisters of the briar. Ted's favourite tobaccos are Penzance, Frog Morton on the Bayou, and Squadron Leader. Always in search of the perfect pipe and tobacco, Ted hopes never to find them...

Juan was born in Talca City, Chile, and is a mechanical engineer currently working with Agrocepia Dehydrated. Among his more than a dozen pipes, Juan loves his BBB 712 (in the photo above), and believes that a pipe, in addition to giving us wonderfully fragrant moments, is also an aesthetic object of great beauty. Juan remembers having been introduced to the "beautiful art of pipesmoking" by a college teacher. Juan is a member of the Santiago Pipe Club of Chile, and has been smoking for seven years already. His favourite tobaccos are Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe and Mac Baren's Scottish Blend.

Born in Vienna, Austria, Christian is a "Magister" in German Literature/Language and History, and speaks, besides English, Romanian. He has written numerous tobacco reviews for the Viennese Pipe Club, of which he is a member. Christian has been "unofficially" with the PCoLeb for a couple of years already: a contributor to our journal, Christian has also translated the PCoLeb's "Tobacco Sampling Sheet" into German. In 2007, he generously welcomed Paul Jahshan and his family on their trip to Austria. An ex-smoker of cigarettes, Christian quit them when he found out that pipesmoking was his real passion. A collector of Macintosh and assorted computers, and a fervent web surfer, he is in love with all of his 40+ pipes, but has a special liking to an Austrian hand-made Prammer pipe. His preferences are for aromatics and light English mixtures, and preferably smokes Mayflower Nr. 1 and VCPÖ Selection Nr. 1, only available in Austria.

Born in 1971 in Frankfurt, Germany, Oliver enjoyed his first pipe in 1997, when he met Paul Jahshan at the University of Nottingham (UK). Working towards their degrees at the same department, a joint pipe session frequently sparked extensive discussions until the wee hours of the morning. Now heading the editing department at a large international consultancy, Oliver leads a hectic working life, which means those joyful hours of pipesmoking offer welcome opportunities for quiet and contemplation. Oliver was the first overseas member to join the PCoLeb "on site," attending an official club meeting during a visit to Paul and his family. His favourite pipe is a Vauen Mirage 142, which is reserved for W.O. Larsen’s No. 50. Oliver’s other tobaccos include Dunhill's My Mixture 965 and W.O. Larsen’s A True Delight.

Walter was born in 1969 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is working as a pharmacy preparer/producer of cosmetology. Walter delights in spending quiet moments with his pipe in the company of his wife and two children, for "smoking pipes is a pleasure and a relaxation" which "frees the mind to travel with smoke." A believer in the big fraternity of pipesmokers, Walter is a member of various pipesmoking mailing lists to which also belong several members of the Pipe Club of Lebanon. The happy owner of 70 pipes purchased over more than 10 years of ardent smoking, Walter has a preference for the handmade pipes of Rafael Martin, Bruker, Savinelli, and Mastro de Paja. English mixtures are definitely at the top of his tobacco list, especially Dunhill 965, Balkan, and Larsen; yet he also believes that to every moment there is a tobacco, and good aromatics are as welcome as the old Latakia blend.