Joshua Amupadhi
EVEN before Beau Brummell’s nudist resort went bankrupt the International Naturist Federation had expelled him from their ranks. They say he is a pornographer. And his wife agrees.
After 18 years of letting it all hang out, nudist king and porno-dealer Beau Brummell (his real name is Michael Bush) has put his clothes back on.
The 54-year-old Brummell, who has fought a bitter three-year court battle with shareholders, who also accuse him of dealing in pornography, is getting out of the business.
“It’s a sad day. Nudity has been my business all my life and I was damn good at it. But I can’t take the stress and the worry any more. This is no longer fun, so I’m moving on.”
He claims the shareholders have fleeced him because they were opposed to homosexuals and blacks joining in the activities at the colony near Warmbaths, north of Pretoria. But others say Brummell was peddling low-grade porn. And the Antwerp-based International Naturist Federation left him in the cold after expelling his South African Naturist Federation because of “definitely proved pornographic activities”.
Even his wife, Cecilia, says they were into porn for the last eight years: “How do they [shareholders] think we kept the naturist colony going? We are proud of who we are … the majority of my shareholders bought porn from us. Unlike them, our lives have always been an open book, we have no skeletons in the cupboard.”
Brummell’s ventures into pornography included marketing still photographs and movies, and distributing cheaply produced pamphlets.
Brummell successfully opposed three previous court actions against the closure of the colony by the 65 shareholders. In addition to charges of pornography, they also accused him of not consulting them and of unilaterally increasing monthly levies from R140 to R720 in less than a year. Brummell says he did not need to consult because of his 80% stake in the company.
Still, his decision to shut down was effectively forced by a three-year levy boycott by shareholders. Brummell says the shareholders now owe him the R1,3-million which it cost him to maintain the colony.
Two shareholders, who declined to be named, say Brummell indecently exploited the spirit of naturism.
“We didn’t want to be associated with a person who peddles pornography. He has done so many things which are against naturism,” a board member said.
Another says: “He [Brummell] came up with this unbelievably autocratic decision that gays are welcome. I wouldn’t want my children to mingle with them. Moreover, when we formed the company in 1992 we agreed the resort would only be for families and heterosexual couples.” The shareholders deny they resisted blacks visiting the resort.
Brummell admits that the 1993 open-door policy never proved profitable as only one black couple ever come to the colony. He added that no homosexuals visited the colony.
The 400ha Beau Valley greets visitors with a signboard that reads, “Welcome to the Sunshine State … NATURALLY”. It is here that we found up to 50 unclad weekend visitors relaxing.
None seemed bothered by the (clothed) M&G reporter and photographer. They had no idea that within days Beau Valley will be no more.
Application to liquidate Nylbuffel Share Block, the company that ran the colony, was issued by the Pretoria Supreme Court on Tuesday. Brummell says an auctioneer will sell off the Beau Valley in the next two months.