Feeling buff? Join the club
A Co. Derry nudist group is appealing for others with bare-faced cheek to join it.
James, from Garvagh, says the group consists of four couples at present and they would ideally like another four couples to expand their social set.
High on the agenda is going swimming which, in their case, involves having a pool closed to the public. Add the costs of keeping the complex running, insured and keeping on a lifeguard and it becomes pricier than the normal skinny dip.
“The cost for a night is £500-£600,” said James. “That’s why we need a few more people to make it viable.”
He says they have approached Magherafelt, Coleraine and Ballymena leisure centres already but that only Ballymena are open to playing ball.
They have also approached the National Trust about assigning a section of Portstewart Strand for naturists. “Northern Ireland is the only place in the whole of Europe that doesn’t have designated nudist beaches,” James complained.
For now, the octet’s social scene is a strictly behind closed doors affair as they get together in each other’s houses at weekends.
James says he discovered the beauty of being in his birthday suit when he and his future wife went on their first holiday together. “She stripped off on the beach and invited me to join her. I wasn’t that happy doing it at first,” he admits.
Now he compares it to the ‘good feeling’ one gets when kicking off one’s shoes after a day’s work.
“We go on holidays together and we meet lots of like-minded people from all over Northern Ireland,” said James, adding: “There are lots of naturist clubs in England and Scotland.”
He is appealing for genuine naturists to come forward. Four years ago they advertised on the internet for new members and got about 40 responses. They hired a cottage in the Glens to conduct interviews and ended up with just one couple. “Lots of men only came to see the women,” he admitted.
“We’re not out to show people our bits and we’re not asking people to go public,” he added. “We’re looking to find other, like minded people.”
Asked about the group, Garvagh MLA Adrian McQuillan quipped he hadn’t come across them yet but might be tempted to join, while Terry Diamond, manager of the Seven Towers leisure centre in Ballymena, said he wasn’t aware of any approach being made by the group. “That would have to go before the council and this is Ballymena – I can’t see it,” he added.
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