ORPINGTON: Getting naked 'not about sex' naturists say (From News Shopper)

ORPINGTON: Getting naked 'not about sex' naturists say

8:20am Thursday 29th October 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(5)

Brocken Hurst naturist centre claims to be the UK’s largest, allowing 465 members to come together and wander naked through its woodland site. MARK CHANDLER reveals all.

AS I swam naked with a doctor called Roger, he told me about the proud tradition of public nudity.

That tradition is alive and well at Brocken Hurst, a 50-acre site run by The Naturist Foundation charity in Orpington with room for 100 caravans and sports facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts and sauna.

As the centre’s chaplain Trevor Humber explained: “Basically we do all the things other people do but without any clothes.

“We find this great liberation and freedom in feeling the air on our skin.”

Unfortunately on my visit the cold weather seems to be preventing anyone but Roger and I from experiencing that liberation, which he claims goes all the way back to biblical times.

My only other real sight of naked naturist flesh came when John Latchford strolled towards me wearing nothing but a jumper, his manhood swaying in the autumnal air.

John, a 56-year-old publican, travels to the site from Folkstone every week with his wife Carol Latchford, 64.

Carol said: “John and I have never made a secret over what we do. It’s one of those things you have to be open about.

“People have the wrong attitude to naturism - they just think you’re all fornicating with eachother.”

John told Carol he was a naturist a few weeks into their relationship.

She said: “My reaction was wow - great.

“I didn’t have a problem with it at all. It was just quite natural to me. I was quite happy to go and quite happy to strip off.”

Hundreds of other people come to Brocken Hurst regularly each year to bare all and take part in events like the annual jazz festival, cabaret and even religious services.

Chaplain Trevor said: “We’re fairly strict on behaviour but you can be unclothed whenever you like basically, even when we’re having food in the bar.

“The main rule is to have a towel with you when you sit on a chair. That’s for hygiene reasons.”

But with all this nakedness on show, isn’t there a danger that men in particular might get a little... over excited?

Trevor says: “It generally doesn’t happen surprisingly enough. If it does happen then you cover up.”

One other myth of naturism, he explains, is that it is full of seedy people gawping at one another’s private parts.

Trevor says: “It’s a natural thing to have a quick glance - it’s just part of human nature.

“As long as you’re not staring and making a nuisance of yourself. After a while it becomes so natural it’s not a consideration at all.”

Elizabeth said: “People think naturism equals sex basically. But men prefer women in bikinis or something skimpy.

“It’s not about exhibitionism - it’s about being comfortable with who you really are.”

Personally, few things could have been less comfortable for me than sitting in front of Trevor with no clothes on. But few things could have been less sexy either and I’m sure the feeling was mutual.

Trevor, it turns out, is such a committed naturist he even proposed naked on a hill to his current wife Elizabeth during her first visit to a club.

He explained: “There’s a feeling that there’s nothing hidden between you - there are no secrets.

Trevor added: “What people say is that when they come through the gates they leave all their stress behind them.”

For more information on Brocken Hurst - though not from your work computer - visit naturistfoundation.org

NATURISM: THE BARE ESSENTIALS

Always carry a towel.

Don’t take photos or video.

Don’t stare at people’s private parts.

Cover yourself if you become aroused.

Respect the other people around you.

Don’t wear a swimming costume in the pool.