By Iain S Bruce

British naturists have been forced to postpone their plans to celebrate World Naturism Day due to inclement weather and a government insensitive to the needs of naked people.
While a series of events to mark the occasion will take place in nudist resorts across Europe on May 1, the administrative body British Naturism has put back the UK festivities to late June. Activists say the move, which will deny British nudists access to a day of activities enjoyed by millions across the continent, is the result of years of official neglect.

'The UK's climate means we can't plan outdoor events in confidence, while the appalling lack of indoor facilities means we have to miss out on one of the biggest days in the naturist calendar,' says Mark Nisbet, editor of the naturist magazine Health & Efficiency.

'While governments in Germany and France have applied high-level backing and EU fund ing to found purpose-built sports centres and leisure clubs where clothing is optional, here we have barely moved forward in 20 years. Naturism is one of the longest-established and most popular minority interests in Britain, but it is also among the most ignored.'

Since its introduction to Brit ain by European immigrants in the 1920s, naturism has been an increasingly popular pastime. British Naturism claims a core membership of 25,000 in 170 clubs. According to a survey conducted by NOP last year, more than a million Britons like to venture out without clothing occasionally.

Only a handful of public facilities exists for this sizeable customer base. There are 13 officially designated naturist beaches scattered across the UK, most of them in the south of England, with adherents forced to fall back on a limited number of private clubs during intemperate weather.

'Every year we receive hundreds of calls from tourists com ing to Britain and are forced to inform them that the difference between British and European naturism is like night and day,' says British Naturism spokesman Mike Berridge. 'It seems incredible that there is not a single public place in London where people can take their clothes off -- not even in Hyde Park -- and the situation in our other cities is much the same.'

For Scottish naturists the situation is even more difficult. Although there are two clubs in Edinburgh, one on Loch Lomond and one in Aberdeen, public nudity is legal only on the beach at Cleat's Shore, Arran. Even there, the climate restricts use to a few months of the year.

'It is often too cold to venture outdoors, and while some municipal venues, such as the Haddington Sports Centre, have been quite good about setting aside private sessions, there is nowhere for the casual naturist to go in Scotland,' says Jim Dickie, an Edinburgh nudist. 'We definitely need a resort with wet-weather facilities.'

Scottish naturists, like their fellow hobbyists in England, are often forced to go abroad in search of suitable locations. Naked tourism is developing into a billion-dollar industry abroad, with specialist resorts in Belgium, France, Germany, America, Australia and Japan springing up in the past 20 years to provide a comfortable nude environment in fair weather or foul.

'In America the naked dollar is worth $900 million a year and rising. In mainland Europe, governments have lent support and investment towards providing facilities that act as a major tourist attraction,' says Nisbet.

'But if you walked into a British public funding meeting with plans for a £5m naturist resort, they'd snigger and throw you out of the room.'

According to the NOP survey, twelve million Britons have gone swimming naked while a further six million have sunbathed nude on holiday abroad, where attitudes are more relaxed. These figures have convinced the naturist move ment that the UK naturism industry would swing into action if proper facilities were made available.

'Once you've swum naked, it doesn't feel right to do it any other way,' says Berridge. 'Mod ern beachwear leaves you almost naked anyway, and I am convinced that, given proper encouragement, most people would enjoy giving it a try.'

In the absence of an all-weather resort to bring the UK into line with Europe, British Naturism is urging local authorities to select and maintain more nude bathing areas on Britain's beaches. The society would also like to see its efforts given government support, but accepts this would require a marked cultural change to take place.

'Attitudes have been steadily improving over the past decade, but naturism still suffers from the Carry On movie image of boobs and beach balls,' says Berridge. 'It is high time Britain grew up, looked at the example the rest of the world is setting and changed its attitude to public nudity.'