THERE is more to naturism than being the butt of a couple of cheap gags in Carry On films – for some people it is a way of life. Jemma Walton spoke to a couple who have run a nude swimming evening in Whittlesey for a decade, which is now threatened with closure after numbers plummeted following rumours of unsavoury goings-on.
HOW long do you spend in the buff every day? In these sub-zero winter temperatures, you're brave if you manage to strip off long enough to jump in and out of a hot shower before settling down for the night in your fleeciest pyjamas.
But this is fa
r from the case for ardent naturists Norman and June Calvert, who have been running naked "Club Soleil" swimming sessions at Manor Pool, Whittlesey, for the past 10 years.
June, who discreetly taps her nose when you ask her age, has been a naturist since her teens, and introduced Norman (71) to the pleasures of nakedness when they married 30 years ago.
"You're at one with nature," she said. "It's a much freer way of life."
In addition to regularly walking around the house naked and going on naturist holidays, the pair decided to run nude swimming nights when they moved to Thorney, near Peterborough, from Yorkshire, and couldn't find any provisions for naturists in the area.
They soon established swimming nights at the Whittlesey pool, and another in Bedford. In its heyday the Whittlesey club attracted about 140 swimmers, of all ages and from all walks of life.
"We had babies straight from hospital and teenagers, families, police, doctors, surgeons, such a wide variety of people," said June. "We have a Catholic priest who comes along to the Whittlesey swims."
But it now looks as though the club is in its dying stages, after the couple were the target of gossip and abuse, and malicious rumours began to spread about their swimming sessions.
Fenland District Council (FDC) banned children from attending Club Soleil between December 2004 and April 2005, after there were concerns about children being seen naking by adults and seeing grown-ups with no clothes on.
The ban was lifted by the council, and a spokesman said it is now "entirely happy" with the sessions. But by April, a lot of the club's regular punters seemed to have thought 'there's no smoke without fire', and the number of families coming along to swim plummeted from 21 to just three.
An FDC spokesman said the Manor's manager has invited the Calverts to talk to them about ways forward for the club.
"We had a lot of nasty phonecalls," said June, of Smithfield, Thorney. "We were called paedophiles, we were called all the worst things you can imagine. People told us that they knew something had definitely gone on there, but nothing ever had," added Norman.
"We were very hurt, because we genuinely believe we have helped a lot of people."
June said that one of the best things about naturism is its stress-relieving capacities.
"I sit on reception and when people walk in I can see the stress all over their faces, they're screwed up. But when they leave, you can see the stress has left their face, and they are different people," she said.
"Naturist swimming is very peaceful. Clothes can be cumbersome, especially when you're swimming and you've got your costume riding up and a strap falling down.
"There is a great sense of friendship among naturists, and there is no difference in people's rank or status - everyone is equal."
Club Soleil has been losing up to £100 a week after the falling numbers coming to the Whittlesey swims, and they say the events will fold in March if a lot more people don't take part.
This makes a sad contrast with the event they hold in Bedford, which, never having been touched by scandal, regularly attracts about 120 bathers.
But the couple are philosophical, and are currently checking out other swimming pools in the area they can hire to start another club.
"Being a naturist isn't everyone's cup of tea," said June, who has a smooth, calm complexion and a open, friendly manner. "We have six children between us, and all of them say 'It's OK for you two, but it's not for us,' and that's fine, it's not for everyone."
As for the sexual element of nakedness that many people would assume would be an unavoidable factor of any naturist event, Norman and June said that they can normally tell who's more interested in ogling naked bodies than enjoying the freedom of going without clothes when they ring up.
"We tell people that it's not a sex thing, and if they're looking for that they should go somewhere else," said June.
"And if men are worried that they might get excited, we tell them to jump in the water – that'll soon calm them down!"
She said that first-timers are allowed to cover themselves up with a towel until the feel comfortable stripping off, and have seen an increase in the amount of older people keen to take part.
"We had one 70-year-old lady who said she's alway wanted to try naturism, but had only just plucked up courage," she said. "We showed her a cubicle she could get changed in if she wanted, and she said: 'There's not really much point, is there?'
"A lot of people say they always wanted to try naturism, but were just too shy to give it a go."
n Soleil Club sessions are held at the Manor Leisure Centre Swimming Pool, Station Road, Whittlesey, from 7pm to 9pm on Saturday evenings. Admission is £5 for club members, £1 for children under 18, and £6 for visitors.
More information is available at www.soleil.f9.co.uk/whittlesey.html, or by calling the Calverts on 01733 270270.
