Feature

Ever been to a nude beach in Toronto? If the thought of being stark naked in front of another human being, who is not your partner or a member of your immediate family, makes you feel extremely uncomfortable, I feel you.

I had the tricky task of planning a New Year’s trip with my lesbian partner, my nine-year-old son, and his father. Who would have guessed a nudist retreat was the perfect fit?

The naked body is as old as humanity. But nudism as a social form, organized into clubs and societies, only came of age in England in the 1920s.

Its practitioners came from a variety of backgrounds and included those with an interest in “physical culture” (today we would refer to this as bodybuilding and beauty pageants). Many were interested in natural health, including vegetarian diets and raw foods, and new exercise regimens, from walking to yoga.

BOOM!! A surprise call-out arrived by email on Monday 17 August 2020. Come Together, London – Spencer Tunick Installation 2020

After six months of locked-down, doom-laden, isolated existence – during which time the arts and social-living had been sacrificed on the altar of coronavirus safety – this was a much-needed breath of renewed life for enthusiasts.

“Do you sell parasols?” It’s Friday night in Primark and anticipating a heatwave, I’m preparing myself for the next day’s Naturist Jazz & Real Ale Festival.

I’ve already chosen new flip flops and a sunhat, but I feel a parasol is just what my non-outfit needs.

Here’s a look at some of the stories that were making the headlines back in 1980

Clothes are not a necessity for everyone, so why do we bother wearing clothes at all?

Stephen Gough likes to be naked; so much so, it has cost him his freedom.