Nudist beach opens in Brighton (1980) – ITN archive

After long and divisive debates on the issue, the local council had agreed to open the first British public nudist beach in August 1979, writes Ian Searcey. They had to wait eight months to ensure there were enough signs in place to warn more sensitive residents and visitors, before anyone could safely start abandoning their beachwear.

ITN’s Sue Lloyd-Roberts was duly sent to a chilly-looking coast to look at the signs and report on reaction to this new development.

Things began sedately, with a young girl teasing local voyeurs (who just happened to be passing) with a strip-down to her new bikini – but nothing more.

However, it was not long before Sue and her intrepid cameraman were treated to the sight of a local publican, a middle-aged man in a hat and a woman “who wished to remain anonymous” casting off their inhibitions to splash about in the surf in a “triumph for naturism”.

Asking an older couple out for a stroll for their reaction, the husband claimed not to be fussed by it all as he was “too old to be worried about that sort of thing”.