Discreet or flamboyant, they come in all shapes and personality sizes. But accusations of lewd behaviour have left the nudists of Corton Beach red faced … not with embarrassment but with outrage.
A naturist haven since 1979, this stretch of Suffolk sand, near Lowestoft, has become a talking point for the fully clothed and bare fleshed alike.
It all started with a sign – which was erected by the parish council and then mysteriously removed – declaring that it is not a naturist beach and warning against “lewd behaviour.”
“Warning: Corton beach is not a naturist beach. Lewd behaviour will not be tolerated and may be recorded by CCTV and reported to the police. Causing an offence to others is a criminal offence and all cases will be reported for prosecution” it said.
The very suggestion of lewd behaviour has 41-year-old Adam Ford, a long time user of the beach from Guildford – who runs an events company and calls himself ‘the Naked Friend” – up in arms.
He tells The Mirror: “There is no lewd behaviour from naturists. I am not weird and it’s not weird to be naked
“I am less of a threat than people with their clothes on and have even been threatened with being beaten up for being naked! And I worry less about my image and weight than textile (clothed) people.”
This is seconded by Charlotte McLean, 37, of Lowestoft, another proud naturist, who grew up going to Corton Beach with her naturist grandparents. Going without clothes, she says, has improved her self esteem.
“Natursim should be accepted,” she says, explaining that, growing up around nudity, she has been stripping off when she gets home since her schooldays.
While she covers up when she goes out, she and her husband are often naked at home and hope their children become naturists when they are older, too.
She says: “A lot of people don’t understand why I live like this. They even ask me why I go swimming with naked old people!”
One of 43 nudist beaches in the UK, with others including Holkham in Norfolk, Brighton Naturist Beach in East Sussex and Druridge Bay in Northumberland, according to the biggest ever survey of its kind by pollsters Ipsos in 2022, nearly 7 million Brits consider themselves to be nudists.
Protected by the European Convention of Human Rights, naturism is seen as a legal form of expression in the UK.
It only strays into the territory of indecent exposure in public if it causes alarm or distress.
And – despite erecting the sign, which many felt was associating lewd behaviour with naturism – local parish council representatives now seem to be backtracking and are keen to recognise its legality … even when it comes to nudity on Corton Beach.
A spokesperson told The Mirror: “We are not trying to stop or outlaw Naturism. We are not trying to stop nude sunbathing.
“Corton Parish Council does not say or imply in any way that naturists are responsible for the lewd behaviour. The sign (which has now been removed) does not say, and is not intended to say, imply or indicate in any way they are.”
So, why stir up such a sandstorm of outrage? Eastern region organiser for British Naturism, Nigel Newman, says: “Naturism and lewd behaviour are entirely different things. Lewd behaviour is illegal and naturism doesn’t tolerate that. We are just as much opposed to it as anyone should be.”
As for the locals, opinions over the nudists, who normally nestle among the sand dunes at the back of the beach, are mixed.
“It really doesn’t bother me at all knowing they are there. They always keep to themselves and are no harm,” says local Kerry, 38, who withheld her surname.
She regularly walks her Dalmatian Arlo on the beach, adding:“If that’s what they want to do (go naked) it’s fine. They keep to themselves anyway.”
A local fisherman and proud naturist, who prefers to be anonymous, has enjoyed all the naturist beach has to offer “for decades.”.
He describes the Parish Council as “a bunch of people with nothing better to do”. The “lewd behaviour” sign “saddened” him.
He adds: “Naturists do not use inappropriate behaviour. It’s a lovely community and, no matter how many signs they (the Parish Council) put up, I won’t stop using the beach.”
But ex-council worker Ian Purdom, 63, says he’s had “altercations” with naturists on the beach while trying to operate his fishing business on the shorefront.
“I’ve been asked ‘why are you fishing here?’” he says, adding that he has had “heated confrontations” with naturists – even telling someone at one point that they “shouldn’t be naked.”
He adds: “Most of them are fairly discreet and sit in the dunes, but they do come out and have a swim and this particular beach is becoming more frequented by families and it’s not pleasant for the children.
“They (the naturists) aren’t afraid to come further up the beach, they will play football or swim among the fishing lines.”
Claiming that there can be up to 40 naturists on the beach at once, he claims to have seen “lewd behaviour” occasionally, although he won’t elaborate, simply saying: “There have been incidents over the years.”
He claims the police didn’t do anything, adding: “As the naturists weren’t harming anyone, it was considered a low priority.”
Another anonymous dog walker tells us of a time when her husband called the police over a group of naturists “behaving inappropriately.”
“I have been stared at as I’ve walked past and I have seen nudists behaving inappropriately,” she says.
And a mother, out with her son, tells us: “Naturists can make using the beach very awkward. I consciously make the effort to walk in the opposite direction.”
While local Tony Gdula, 70, tells us: “Women tend to feel intimidated by men without clothes on, whereas men aren’t that bothered. I am not.”
Meanwhile, Nigel Newman says it is a mystery who removed the provocative sign, adding, on behalf of British Naturism: “We would have preferred if this had never happened, but it’s definitely put the beach on the map.”