Another pioneer of the movement was N F Barford who recommended, as a step towards social nudity, wearing minimum clothing for sunbathing. The hot summer of 1928 encouraged public tolerance, and health movements were publicising the benefits of sunlight. In this climate of opinion, Barford launched his Sun Bathing Society, which promoted sun and air bathing for families.

Naturism was also practised, with or without light costumes, at the Welsh Harp in Hendon, apparently from as early as 1921, though it attracted no public attention until physical attacks were made on the sunbathers in 1930. They formed an association which shortly became the National Sun and Air Association and which ran national advertising campaigns as well as a gymnasium in Westbourne Grove in London. By 1937 membership was 2,350, with a London office.

Attempts by Barford to form a lasting national federation of clubs failed, and it was not until the Arcadians of Sun Hill urged national co-operation that in 1943 the 'British Sun Bathing Association' was founded. The association grew until in 1951 there were 51 clubs or groups in membership. Personal and ideological differences led to the formation of the rival 'Federation of British Sun Clubs' in 1953, a breach that was not healed until the formation of the Central Council for British Naturism (now often called British Naturism) in 1964.

Since the war, Britain has been host to International Naturist Federation congresses in 1958, 1970 and 1978. Meanwhile, increasing acceptance has led to the public showing of naturist films from 1957, the hire of public baths for naturist swimming from 1965 and the setting aside of public beaches for naturist use from 1978.

Michael Farrar, Archivist