A tongue in cheek letter critical of the decision to allow naturists to use an Ely swimming pool has provoked an angry reaction in Mildenhall where the club is based.

Ely Standard: Mack Mathod at work in his studio. He has caused a storm with comments he made over nudist swimming sessions at Ely's Paradise Pool.Mack Mathod at work in his studio. He has caused a storm with comments he made over nudist swimming sessions at Ely's Paradise Pool. (Image: Archant)

Paradise Pool, Ely, has hosted the first of three sessions in April and May organised by the Mildenhall Naturist Swimming Club.

Malcolm Boura, club chairman, said: “It is both good for you and fun. Nothing’s better.”

But Ely artist Mack Mathod caused a storm when he wrote that “my wife and I and many of my friends are not nudists and would be very upset if this kind of thing became a regular event.

“It may be good enough for Mildenhall with their population of Americans or even Newmarket with the rich horse racing fraternity but this is Ely. “

Fearing it could be the “start of a nudist slippery slope” he wondered what might come next!

However his views have not gone down well in Mildenhall where a Facebook community group was is awash with criticism.

One lady wrote: “As an American let me say this: Americans are some of the prudish people on the planet. I can assure you that the American population would be pretty unhappy about a nude pool.”

Another woman wrote: “Oh for goodness sake.... people need to get a grip and a life. “I’m sure this won’t be an open session and only available to those who really want to attend with full knowledge.

“It’s the staff I feel for who will be providing pool support. I’m not a nudist but know several and they are all very considerate people.”

A further comment noted that “the author certainly doesn’t know Americans very well! And obviously doesn’t understand ‘live and let live’”.

Some, of course, could see the funny side noting that “a nudist slippery slope’ sounds like it could be a tad dangerous and uncomfortable”.

A male member of the Mildenhall Club joined the debate telling the letter’s author to “come on buddy, wise up. You sound narrow minded”.

The best advice, probably, came from the contributor to the debate who thought there was “nothing wrong with that at all. If you’re not a naturist you don’t go, simple.”

Mr Mack, meantime, is likely to be enjoying the attention his off the wall observations have attracted.

On his website he describes himself as being “an absurdist all my life. In the 70s I worked in absurd performances all over the country.

“I am actively and continually reassigning the absurd, the meaningless and ridiculousness, once a staple diet of sixties creativity, in an attempt to reintroduce that mindset into 21st century art forms.”