Tony Macinnes, 70, spent five years as a closet naturist before finally finding the courage to go public after his relationship ended 18 months ago. He now spends around 80% of his time undressed and attends naturist events across the UK.
A secret passion
For years, Tony dreamed of taking his clothes off and going outside, but his partner at the time was not interested. 'I thought about it for years, but my partner at the time wasn't interested. In fact, she was quite against it,' he explains. So, whenever he was home alone, he would strip down and enjoy the naked solitude.
'If there was nobody else around, I would take my clothes off whenever I could get away with it,' he recalls. 'I knew there was nothing wrong with it. Contrary to what people think, naturists aren't weirdos.'
Naturism is a popular, if sometimes secretive, pastime – an Ipsos survey commissioned by British Naturism found that 14% of UK adults aged 16 to 75 describe themselves as naturists or nudists. However, to ward off peeping Toms, many naturist clubs do not advertise themselves from the roadside.
Coming out
Tony, a former military man who later worked in TV satellite systems until he retired, found solace in his community online. It was only when his relationship ended that he finally came out. 'A Facebook friend mentored me into becoming a social naturist. They told me about clubs, where people could eat, drink, shop and live in the nude all the time,' he tells Metro from his Lancashire home – in the nude.
'I said I would love to do it, and she told me how easy it was. So I just walked along to Studland Naturist Beach in Dorset. I was a tiny bit nervous, but I put my towel down, stripped off and just got on with it. Since then, I've never looked back.'
'People believe it's sexual, but it's not in the slightest. Being naked outdoors is a very liberating, beautiful feeling.' Tony also warned his neighbours that they might see him pottering around outside in the nude. 'They were fine with it. "No problem", they said. Now, I tend to be very open about it.'
New partner, new life
These days, he and his partner, Pam, 74, split their time between Devon and Lancashire, attending as many naturist events as they can. Pam only discovered the lifestyle when she met Tony a year ago, but has taken to it like a duck to water. 'The way she describes it is that she ripped off the plaster. She basically joined me at the first naturist event and she's never looked back,' he explains. 'She enjoyed it. If she was nervous, she didn't express that. She's been very good at it. I'm very proud of her.'
Tony is sad that so many people are terrified to go out in their trunks and bikinis at this time of year. '9.5 million Brits find swimwear season anxiety-inducing, which I think is a big shame. As a naturist, obviously you don't feel like that at all,' he says. He is referring to new research commissioned as part of the Voy Health Index report, Unembarrassing Bodies, which found that more than one in six Brits (17%) find wearing a swimming costume or trunks stressful, while one in seven (15%) avoid places such as beaches or swimming pools.
Etiquette and acceptance
Tony spends around 80% of his time undressed – though probably would not answer the door naked – and in winter he wears a dressing gown, although he says he does not feel the cold like other people. 'I would quite happily walk down the high street naked, but out of respect for other people, I wouldn't do that.' While it is not against the law to be naked in public, provided the intention is not to cause alarm, distress or harassment, Tony makes sure he carries a sarong with him when he is out and about on long naked hikes across the moors, in case he encounters other 'textiles' – people who wear clothes.
Tony also attends naturist festivals such as Nudefest and BareCamp, where he makes the most of the wellbeing aspect of his hobby. He adds that he has never experienced any hate or criticism, although his grown-up sons remain unconvinced, hovering somewhere between disapproval and a lack of understanding. 'They don't really get why I do it, and I found it very difficult to try and explain it to them. But the bottom line, put simply, is that we're all quite normal people – and it does me a power of good.'
There are practical benefits, too. Tony spends far less time shopping for clothes and doing laundry than the rest of us. He is aware, however, that some people become naturists with nefarious intentions. 'There are some men who become naturists for the wrong reasons, perhaps sexual reasons, and I can spot them straight away. You can tell by the way they talk and whether they're interested in looking at other people. On certain beaches, you might get what we call "meerkats" – often men watching women – up in the dunes. If I see anybody getting harassed, I'll always step in and try to help.'
While there has been a backlash to naturist events in recent years, such as the Naked Bike Ride, with some critics believing they incite the exposure of children to adult nudity, Tony says he doesn't see what the problem is. 'We should be able to do events like these. They are not designed to upset anyone or cause offence. And there is always plenty of publicity beforehand, so people know what to expect.'
For anyone considering giving naturism a try, Tony has simple advice. 'If you think you could benefit from this way of life, just go and do it and head to a naturist beach. For some people it's not easy, but afterwards you'll wonder what you were worried about. In fact, the worst thing about being in a naturist club is getting dressed at the end of it.'
