We had been chatting with a couple who we met socially at pubs to see bands and had been friends for a few years. They were naturists and members of a club, which piqued our curiosity. However, we had no idea how to find out more about naturism or if there were any clubs in our area. Thankfully, they invited us to visit their club to see if it was something we would be interested in.

One Monday night, we met them on the way to the club and followed them there. They warmly welcomed us and showed us around. We even had a great time playing Miniten, although we kept our sportswear on. Then, they suggested we take a swim. Without hesitation, I stripped off and jumped into the pool. Dawn, on the other hand, went to the shower block undressed, and joined us by the pool wearing only a bath towel, quickly dropping this and entering the water. She later commented that it was much easier to take off a towel than undress in front of others.

After that initial visit, we returned on a few Sundays when the sun was shining and the lawn was bustling with activity. We truly enjoyed ourselves and decided to become members of the club. Before joining, we spoke to our children and explained everything about the club. Our two sons, who were 10 and 8 at the time, were eager to join us. However, our 15-year-old daughter declined the invitation.

A year later, we purchased a caravan and started spending many delightful weekends at the club. We made numerous new friends and relished in the relaxation and freedom that naturism offered. On Monday nights, we formed a close-knit group of friends from the club. We would play Miniten or engage in spirited games of Articulate during the winter months. Afterwards, we would have a BBQ, where each of us would bring our own meat and take turns providing potatoes, bread, salad, and dessert.

I eventually became a committee member, as I wanted to give back to the club that had brought us so much joy. As our boys grew older, they stopped coming, but the memories we created together will always hold a special place in our hearts.

I have always had a passion for music, so I would often play music at the club on weekends. It started as a hobby, but when I purchased some disco equipment, with plans on hosting monthly events for fun and extra income. However, as work as a DJ became more demanding, I found myself unable to spend weekends at the club or arriving late at night after work. After much consideration, I made the decision to not renew our membership after being loyal members for 10 years.

Fast forward to March 2020 and the lockdown. Suddenly, I found myself spending weekends at home and realising how much I had missed quality time with my wife and family. This experience made us reassess our priorities and what truly mattered to us.

I had reached a point where I no longer wanted to work every weekend, even after the lockdown ended. Instead, I decided to give up hosting discos. Initially, our first thought was to re-join Oaklands, the club we had previously been members of. We made inquiries and rejoined in August 2021. It was a joy to experience the club’s updated facilities, reconnect with old friends, and make new ones.

After a year of being members again, we realised that the club was where we truly enjoyed spending our time. We even bought a new caravan and now spend most weekends at the club, basking in the sunshine, participating in social nights, and indulging in karaoke. We have even organised a few social nights ourselves.

We have enthusiastically shared our experiences at the club with our close friends Keith and Alison, who had never been to a naturist club before. They were intrigued and decided to visit one sunny and hot Sunday. They felt incredibly comfortable and joined in with everyone else on the lawn, enjoying a refreshing swim in the pool. Since then, they have become members themselves, embracing the naturist lifestyle and all that the club has to offer.

All we can say is we are now back at our “Happy Place “

If you are thinking about becoming Naturist then Oaklands is a wonderful, welcoming safe environment where you can be relaxed and comfortable.

Dave and Dawn