It used to annoy me the single male angle. How could clubs make up their minds when they haven't even met me. But then I realised it was their loss.
The sad thing is, that the clubs local to me are no more. Hence why I joined a club in Gloucestershire.
As I have never attended a swim i didn't realise the sessions weren't solely about serious swimming.

Steve is making breakfast but asked me too say that he maybe shouldn't have suggested that they definaitely aren't about serious swimming - but he reckons most swim clubs would certainly have a good mix of swimming levels. I agree that it is unlikely that everyone would be racing. 

It is a sad situation clubs are looking to build numbers but what do they do about it - turning away single men who could maybe stop them for failing altogether seems silly. Ideally more women and couples and families would be involved but the only way to encourage that is to have the clubs existing and to ensure that naturism and the clubs are trusted and seen as safe  - suggesting that men are not to be trusted and not welcome by themsleves is probably more of a turn off to women and families who will consider that naturism has a problem with predatory men and will be put of getting involved in any way at al - visiting beaches, going to campsite etc as well as joining clubs. The best way to encourage naturism is to welcome all, keep it safe, remove anyone who abuses naturism and make sure it is promoted as family friendly - even if it bring the silly protestors out - they are a handful of people and should not be allowed to encourage naturism to hide something it has always been - a universal and family lifestyle choice.  

This outdated attitude towards single men was the norm over 40 years ago but it really has to cease. There are rotten apples in all walks of life so why they think all single men are suspect, I cannot understand.

Just after joining the club which I outlined in my recent blog we introduced some very close friends to the lifestyle and they joined as a couple. Regrettably their marriage broke down and when I approach the trustees to ensure that at least John could remain,I was told in no uncertain terms NO... and they a registered charity!!

Evening All

I'm Steve, commonly known as The Tyke.

I have been a naturist in secret all my life, and only came out to the world after serious life threatening health problems and I decided to stop keeping it secret and to broadcast to the world that "I AM A NATURIST " and I am damned well proud to shout it. I have to admie it too much especially on FB where I keep getting suspensions for being too open for them about my lifestyle. (They obviously don't like my pictures.)

Oh well.

Ha!  FB is a good place to be from, Tyke.  I finally got fed up with them and broomed them a few years ago. In my case it wasn't because I was being too open about naturism though.  Kudos.   hahaha...