Sense of humour
Sir: I refer to your Dear Mary column (II April), in which she gave advice to some- One who has just installed a swimming-pool in their garden and is worried about others wanting to use it. The suggestion that he adopt a lascivious expression on his face whilst explaining that only nude swimming will be allowed is an indication that she cannot see nudity as having a place outside the bedroom and bathroom.
This attitude is offensive to naturists who
believe that the swimming costume is an unnecessary piece of clothing and was only invented by the Victorians when it became fashionable to visit the seaside as a means of keeping the hoi polloi off the beaches. Nude swimming is perfectly acceptable to our royal family, and Prince Charles would certainly have swum nude at Gordonstoun and the other boarding school he attended. Naturism in Yugoslavia was made fashion- able by King Edward VII when he was sail- ing off the islands and decided to swim.
Do not denigrate to the gutter the lifestyle of 1 per cent of the population who go nude either at clubs or on beaches in this country or at home or whilst on holiday abroad.
I would have thought that a column such as Mary's in a newspaper of such repute as The Spectator would have had a more mature attitude to the human body. Suzanne Piper
Public Relations Officer, Central Council for British Naturism.
Assurance House, 35-41 Hazelwood Road, Northampton
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