THE sun beats down on a hot beach and it's not an uncommon sight these days to spot some dedicated sunbathers getting an "all over tan".

But nudism in East Lancashire where there isn't a beach in sight and baking sunshine is a rare thing? Surely not!

Prepare to be surprised, because the Ribble Valley Club is a thriving naturist community which has been settled on a very discreet site near Ribchester for more than 40 years.

The locals know it's there of course and many a young village prankster has tried to get a peek over the very secure boundary fences over the years. But farther afield it is a little known fact that the naturist club even exists.

You could say it is one of the beautiful Ribble Valley's best-kept tourism secrets.

It is not just a nude sunbathing haven, although the 50 or so members can bask with the best of them given a chance. It is also a sports and social club, and even more than that.

Club secretary Joan talks of a family atmosphere and warmth and friendliness not often found in other "dressed" clubs.

Dave, a retired post office worker said: "You walk through the gates here and immediately you feel like a different person.

"There is always a warm welcome from everyone and once we get our clothes off all barriers, class and otherwise, are gone. "It doesn't matter whether you are a millionaire or a road sweeper - without clothes we are all on the same level."

The club has boasted doctors, vicars and solicitors as members in the past and even now there is a wide range of membership background from decorators, shopkeepers and retired people to teachers, firemen and policemen.

Secretary Joan said: "Everyone comes in handy because we do all our own maintenance and repair work and whatever skills our members bring with them always come in handy."

The idea for the club began in 1950 when a group of like-minded East Lancashire people got together to try to find a site for a naturist community.

The Ribble Valley site seemed ideal and by 1952 the group, then called the Ribble Valley Sun Club, a name which was almost immediately discarded, bought four acres of land.

Work began on clearing the site, which was a former pig farm, and improvements have been continuing ever since.

Now the club has a small swimming pool and sauna, games court, bar and social club, camping area and a range of 24 privately-owned chalets.

Not only is it open to local individual members, couples and families, during the year other clubs come to stay and people even take holidays there.

There is an full programme of summer activities with inter-club sporting tournaments such as mini tennis, a game unique to naturist clubs, petanque, a form of the French game of boules, volleyball and swimming competitions.

All competitions are played in the nude and one participating club even has a crown bowling green within its grounds so that the game can be played undressed, too.

However the snooker tournaments are a different thing and members have to put their clothes on to play in local snooker halls!

The children involved in the club also have plenty to keep them busy.

The members have built an adventure play area and parents can leave their youngsters to play with the confidence that they are perfectly safe within the strict security of the club boundaries.

But it is the feeling of freedom among the adults which brings club members back year after year to renew their connections with the Ribble Valley Club.

Dave and his wife Muriel had been interested in naturism for many years and now that their children have grown up they rarely miss a weekend at the club.

Dave said: "We come through the gate here into a different world.

"I am retired now but when I was working I would come here for the weekend and go back to work on Monday feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated. There really isn't any way to describe the effect naturism has on you."

Firefighter Steve and his wife have been members for about four years.

Their interest in naturism began with a naturist holiday in Yugoslavia many years ago and they eventually joined the local club.

He said: "Firemen are well known for their sense of humour and I can honestly say that the people here and other naturists I have met can have a good laugh as well.

"We know that what we do may not be seen in the same light by everyone but we are not weirdos and we can have a joke about the way we live.

"Having said that, I haven't told all of the lads of work!"

In fact many of the members feel they have to keep the naturism side of the lives separate from some friends and members of their families.

Joan added: "Although my son is a club member, there are other members of the family and friends from different circles who would not understand the principles of naturism and so it is better to keep that part of my life a secret .

"Naturism is about freedom but we don't always have the freedom to live how we want without criticism."

The club is always on the lookout for new members and serious inquiries are always welcomed.

Anyone who would like more information about the group can contact The Ribble Valley Club, Ribchester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn. BB1 9EY.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.