This picture was taken in May 1960 on Fedu.  The dangers to personal health from smoking were not generally known in the 1960’s and as this picture shows the Maldivian youngsters started early.  Cigarettes were very cheap to buy on Gan in the NAAFI and many in the RAF smoked on a regular basis.  Room boys often asked their charges to buy cigarettes for them and this the airmen willingly did.  As this picture shows it was a little disconcerting to see five year olds smoking and inhaling like a seasoned adult smoker.