NATURISTS in Guernsey got together for a cheeky swim to raise money for charity – prompting renewed calls for Jersey to lighten up and allow people to bathe in their birthday suits.
Frustrated Jersey skinny dipper Ross Mantle joined the Sarnian strippers for an annual dip at Pembroke Beach last weekend to support three charities which provide services for men and women living with cancer in the island. A total of £7,000 was collected this year for the Pink Ladies, MUG and The Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief, adding to the £10,000 raised at the previous three skinny dips.
Earlier this year, the JEP reported that Mr Mantle had been told he could not hold a similar event at Bonne Nuit on 13 July because it contravened the Policing of Beaches (Jersey) Regulations 1959. Section 2 of the regulations states that: “No person shall, on any beach, behave or be clothed in any manner reasonably likely to offend against public decency.”
He wanted to raise cash for Jersey Hospice.
Speaking at the time, Mr Mantle said: “1959 was before the flower-power movement and several other things: the Moon landings and the Vietnam War. These regulations are ancient history. What is considered public decency has moved on.”
And to rub salt into the wound, he revealed that Guernsey officials were far more accommodating than the Jersey authorities.
“I think Jersey is very behind the times,” he said: “Even Guernsey has opened their doors to this. The main thing was to raise money for charity in a fun way, and very kindly Jersey Hospice agreed that they would accept the money we raised.”
The organisers of this year’s Guernsey skinny dip urged people to get involved, saying: “…throw off your inhibitions with your clothes. Have a fun swim and raise money for our good causes. There are lifeguards in the water from Guernsey Surf School and everyone will be there to help. Get a group together and find out the benefits of swimming naked.”
Mr Ross said that the turnout on Sunday was some way below the usual 70 dippers because of some chilly-willy weather, with 32 people taking the plunge.
“It was done exactly as I had hoped, in a spirit of fun, with everyone chatting and laughing as they got undressed and swam,” he said. “John Fernandez from the BBC gave a brilliant funny speech and started a countdown.
“We stayed in the water about ten minutes, chatting and laughing. A staggering £7,000 was raised for charity, making a total of over £17,000 raised from the four annual events.
“Being at the event with fellow naturists was a happy and liberating experience for me. Rather than a quick dip, we enjoyed the camaraderie and feeling of child-like freedom from the restrictions imposed by our society.
“My participation was, however, tinged with sadness, because I am not able to do a similar fun charity event in Jersey.
“Why is Jersey so far behind our sister island?”
In Guernsey, there is now an official government sign on an isolated beach saying that naturists may be found in the area. They also have naturist yoga classes and an outdoor life-drawing class with nude models.
“Almost every country in Europe has naturist beaches, and the British Naturist Association has thousands of members and numerous events, including 555 skinny dips this year,” Mr Mantle explained.
“It is time for Jersey to wake up and realise that times have changed since the 1959 regulations on public decency.”
