Forum Topic

Unappetising picnic in Walpole Park

Believe me, I am no prude. In fact I am a great admirer of the female form. However I believe there's a place for this and it's not in our wonderful Walpole Park. The weather this weekend was glorious and what better place in Ealing is there to go for a family picnic after a little retailing in the shopping centre. My wife, two children and I leisurely strolled into the park and began to seek for an ideal spot for our picnic lunch. It is usual on days like these for sun worshipers to top up their tans but to our shock we were greeted by near nude bathers. Many in skimpy bikinis, which to my mind is inappropriate but that may be just me. However there were a few who were topless and wearing g strings and I'm sure I wouldn't be alone in thinking this isn't right. This is a family park and my wife and I were embarrassed and didn't know where to look or what to say to our children. I know this sort of thing happens on a Mediterranean beach but since when has it become acceptable for a family park in London?

Anthony McDonald ● 5062d25 Comments

We may very well have progressed in the last twenty five years but it is at a truly glacial pace and from a very low starting point.

Tony Colliver ● 5054d

Re  current state of our civilisation's development.                  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    and what pray Tony, is that supposed to mean. I was only saying to a Polish friend who was here this evening when a programme came on Tv re medical  matters and  members of the public are invited to contact the doctors on screen re their conditions, which often involves the  explicit showing of the most  up close personal parts of the body, as indeed was so this evening and I said anything goes these days on Tv to which he said not in Poland would anything like that be shown. I can remember when AiDs came news in early 80's? and the Govt. wanted to put out TV adverts re the dangers of unprotected sex and were constrained because possibly two mythical spinsters in  Southend? might be upset re the mention of condoms!. So think how  we have progressed even in the past 25-30 years. But everyone going starkers in public parks I think is pushing things too far. Might frighten the horses?.

Tony Price ● 5054d

Yep, the Germans are well know for their propensity to discard their clothing with gay abandon at frequent intervals.Doesn't seem to have done them any harm.

Tony Colliver ● 5054d

Nope, I wouldn't mind at all.I do however recognise that such a substantial leap forward in personal freedom would cause problems given the current state of our civilisation's development.

Tony Colliver ● 5054d

How interesting that they chose that venue! Irony?

Susan Kelly ● 5055d

Yes, in parts of the English Garden in Munich, a very conservative city, full nudity is a common sight in both genders during the summer. Obviously, this behaviour doesn't much reflect the prudish, sexually repressed nature of the people it's named after.

M. Duley ● 5055d

I believe that nudism in public parks is quite common in Germany. At least, last time I did some work there I asked my hosts about it and they said, 'Maybe in Munich!'

Susan Kelly ● 5055d

Mary Whitehouse? Daily Mail? What are you talking about Tony? It has nothing to do with either of those.If you want public spaces to be taken over by pervs and flashers then fine for you but I don't.Just as happened at the nudist beach at Brighton when it first opened.I suppose you wouldn't mind a couple going at it hell for leather in a public park.

Keith Iddon ● 5058d

Re  Who cares if they take all of their clothes off?!              xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      I don't think Tony your idea will get very far because unless males are also allowed to decloth, and which is MOST unlikely, the question of discrimination would arise. I am all for relaxed attitudes etc but there is a time and place for everything and I don't think a public park in the centre of a town is the right place to go in nudo corpore?

Tony Price ● 5058d

Good grief!Who cares if they take all of their clothes off?!If we had a bit more of that kind of thing maybe we'd have a bit less of the stupid embarrassment displayed by many at the mere contemplation of the human body as nature intended.I had thought that we had put all of this kind of 'Mary Whitehouse' tendency to want to dictate what others do behind us when god finally recalled the redoubtable lady (although he did make us wait a depressingly long time before he did).  But then I suppose there is still the Daily Mail...  and its legions of readers to contend with...Why can't people just get on with living their own lives and let others be?

Tony Colliver ● 5059d

I think my wife was too shocked herself to notice my reaction. Thankfully

Anthony McDonald ● 5061d

Apologies Anthony!! Just in my years in Ealing I've never seen this. Lucky you. Did you get a cuff from the wife for having a cheeky look ????

Bud Richards ● 5061d

You have a very vaild point - sunbathing in a bikini is one thing in a public park but going topless??? Not really the done thing and certainly not in a public place. A private back garden is another matter.

F Stone ● 5061d

I guess so, it was around 27 degrees and very humid

Anthony McDonald ● 5061d

Was she hot?

Ben Owen ● 5061d

Believe me I know what a semi clothed woman looks like and why on earth would u make this up?

Anthony McDonald ● 5061d

I know what I saw. Good grief

Anthony McDonald ● 5061d

Photographic verification is required...

Keith Iddon ● 5061d

LOL @ Keith and Philipa!!I will keep you posted!!

Bud Richards ● 5061d

Maybe he's running around it too fast?

Philippa Bond ● 5061d

Maybe your luck will change.

Keith Iddon ● 5061d

Keith,I use this park a lot - I run round it every day - twice sometimes. Never have I seen ladies in a lesser state of dress than a bikini on a hot day. Even with my liberal views, I'd be surprised to see a lady topless, but, hey, you never know!!

Bud Richards ● 5061d

'Bikini's are perfectly acceptable in a park. I doubt very much that any of the ladies were in a lesser state of dress than that'Apparently the op is either lying or is stupid according to this statement.

Keith Iddon ● 5061d

I really need photographic evidence to consider this story genuine....On a serious note, what is wrong with people shedding a few clothes on a hot day. Bikini's are perfectly acceptable in a park, I feel. I doubt very much that any of the ladies were in a lesser state of dress than that. Even with the modern age, people do like to maintain a touch of modesty.So, how about those pics...?!?

Bud Richards ● 5061d

I'm more concerned with people taking their rubbish away than taking their clothes off.

M. Duley ● 5062d