In 2005, Roger Kimball, in his article "The uses of leisure" spent a great deal of time paraphrasing Josef Pieper, the post-war German philosopher and his work "Leisure, the Basis of Culture." and it now falls to me to attempt to remind ourselves about the true meaning and importance of leisure.

Promoting the concept of leisure can be a rather difficult undertaking, especially during difficult times such as 1947 when post-war Germany was coming to terms with the destruction of its physical and moral structure.

Leisure always appears a luxury especially when the whole country is focusing on a rebuilding or survival exercise. Leisure appears to distract from the main work, as Pieper observed of the German attitude; "We are engaged in the re-building of a house, and our hands are full. Shouldn't all our efforts be directed to nothing other than the completion of that house?"

The present global economy and that of the United Kingdom is having the same effect on our thought patterns at the moment.

People are beginning to feel guilty about the small pleasures, about standing still and not "doing" something. We can all still afford leisure. We are constantly being reminded to make "quality time" for ourselves, our family and friends.

Without wishing to deprecate the industry within which I have worked for the last 25 years, I begin to see genuine leisure being lost and replaced with mere entertainment. It is important I believe, especially now, to encourage passive leisure … mix it up with more traditional elements of commercial entertainment. We should analyse the traditional marketplaces and see how sitting places, talking places, thinking places all have a rightful place alongside organized leisure and entertainment. These "softer" elements can improve the ambience of commercial entertainment environments. Allow people to take a foot off the brake.

Leisure is not idleness, but activity undertaken for its own sake. The acts of philosophy, aesthetic or visual enchantment, gossip and even religious worship are good examples.

Another philosopher, this time English, Roger Scruton, quoted a former president of the USA, who replied to an over zealous civil servant with the command "Don't just do something: stand there!" It is telling that no-one seems to remember which president it was.

It is still good advice, especially now, in these harsh financial times. Don't lose perspective and allow ourselves time to stop. In all situations healthy leisure precedes productive activity … and that's what our industry needs right at this minute: clear and calm thought.