THE market town of Grantham is very proud of its heritage, not least its claim to not one but TWO world-famous denizens.
It was here among the pastoral beauty of Lincolnshire that Sir Isaac Newton was born, followed nearly three centuries later by the woman who would transform Britain, Margaret Thatcher.
But now Grantham has another claim to fame — as the home of SWINGING.
For the third year, the nearby village of Allington has hosted Swingathon, “the UK’s biggest swinging festival”.
Here, revellers can indulge in the kind of naked antics that would doubtless have made former Conservative Prime Minister Maggie blush.
As The Sun’s Sexpert, I’ve been invited to cover the X-rated four-day extravaganza, making us the first paper to sneak a peek behind the scenes of this hush-hush event.
Over 1,000 revellers have, ahem, come together from across the country to let loose, with kinky guests shelling out up to £265 for a couple’s ticket.
“People’s self-confidence goes through the roof after a weekend here,” explains founder Matt Cole.
“You can walk around naked or dress up in a sexy outfit and just be unapologetically yourself.
“Whatever your kink, there’s something for everyone. We’ve got orgy tents, private sex rooms and lots of sex games.
“The youngest attendee here is 22 and the oldest is 74, but the average is between 35 to 45.”
The event got the OK despite objections last year by South Kesteven District Council licensing committee and Lincolnshire Police.
Cops feared problems preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, avoiding public nuisance and protecting children from harm.
And, of course, some locals have not taken kindly to hosting a saucy event in their quaint town.
One, who declined to give their name, said: “I heard about the noise complaints previously, and it’s not the sound you want to hear when you’re trying to sleep. It all seems a bit seedy, if I’m honest. Not my cup of tea.
“Each to their own, I suppose, but we don’t want or need it in the village.”
Others have simply found it funny, although they don’t plan to get involved.
One said: “As long as they keep their activities away from our view, we don’t mind. They’re doing us no harm. Some people may find it quite shocking, but most of us think it’s amusing.”
In securing approval for this year’s festival, organiser Kerry Voellner became the swinging Erin Brockovich — the activist, played by Julia Roberts in the self-titled 2000 film, who successfully took on a major utilities firm in a row over water pollution.
Bisexual Kerry, 45, who has been swinging for over 20 years and runs Manchester’s Adam And Eve’s swinging nightclub, said: “We’re in an era where sexual freedom is a basic human right.
“Whether I choose to sleep with different men or women, that’s my prerogative. It doesn’t make me a bad person, just open-minded. People are beginning to understand that everyone deserves recognition and a safe space. Winning the court case was a major victory, but there’s still more work to be done.”
Matt adds: “There were ridiculous articles claiming locals were upset about moaning and screaming from the tents. That’s impossible — first, we’re in the middle of a field, and second, the rock music is so loud, you wouldn’t hear a thing.”
I'm a mum by day and a sexual deviant by night
Denise Grant
It’s true. The band on stage are blasting out classics from Guns N’ Roses and Tina Turner.
For a moment, I almost forget where I am, until I see couples coming and going from the play tents.
Recalling how the festival has evolved, Matt says: “I’ve seen it change over the last few years. Some people sit on the fence and think either you’re a swinger or you’re into kink, but then they’ll watch a demonstration and think, ‘Yeah, that’s a bit of me’. Ten minutes later, they’ll be getting fully immersed in the experience.”
This year’s event promises to be bigger, bolder and better than ever — filled with even more frisky fun.
Reveller Denise Grant, 43, a mum of four who is married to second hubby Joshua, 28, tells me: “I’m a mum by day and a sexual deviant by night.
“It’s escapism. For four days, I get to be a woman, not a mum, not a wife — well, sometimes someone else’s wife!”
Denise tells me how she’s been swinging for four years and runs a podcast called SwingBook, which helps curious people explore the lifestyle safely.
“From going to a lot of events, I realised what I wanted from swinging nights and wanted to create a safe space and support group,” she explains.
“It can feel quite isolating at times. It’s not always easy to say to your friend at work, ‘I’ve always wanted to have an orgy’.
“There’s a lot to be said about having a naughty little secret, but there’s a lot to be said about normalising being a sexual adult.
“Saying, ‘I like to have sex with my friends and a little drink and a dance’ . . . what’s wrong with that?”
As Matt shows me around the venue, our first stop is at a play tent filled with inflatable beds and a giant sign which reads, “Orgy?”.
Within a few hours, it will be teeming with horny revellers.
Inside the orgy tent, I meet Bethany Rose, 38, and Slavithin, 42, property developers from Wales who have been swinging for 20 years.
“We’ve spotted a few couples we might play with later, but we’ll be selective,” says Slavithin.
“We’re more into personality than looks and enjoy threesomes with another girl. We’ll invite them back to our tent — we have air con, a big plus in this heat — or we’ll get things going in the orgy tent.
I've bought some leather pants for my kinky policeman's outfit tomorrow
Plumber Jay
“We usually meet couples on swinging apps or just end up chatting up the barmaid. We’ve taken a few barmaids home with us.”
The pair tell me they are into “mirroring” — where you only go as far as the other couple want to.
“We don’t have a safe word to end play as we’ve been doing it so long, we know what the other one likes,” Slavithin reveals.
Nearby, Jay, 55, a plumber from Cornwall, and Sally, 52, a carer from Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, are giggling over his dressing-up purchase from one of the sex stalls.
“I’ve bought some leather pants for my kinky policeman’s outfit,” Jay says. Then Sally tells me she’s a “hot wife” — a married woman who is encouraged by her husband to pursue sex with others.
“I got married two weeks ago,” she explains. “Not to Jay!
My husband loves to watch and film me having sex with other men
Sally
“My husband isn’t very well, so he likes to know I’m being looked after by other men.
“I’ve been swinging for a few years now. It’s really made our relationship so much better. My husband loves to watch and film it. I’m having the best sex of my life.”
Next I head to the bar for a drink, where I meet Char, 42, and Bry, 53, a supermarket driver, from Peterborough. The couple have been married for four years.
Char tells me how she medically retired from the prison service after being diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in 2018.
She got chatting to Bry on a dating app from her hospital bed.
The couple, who had both dabbled in swinging with previous partners, explore their fantasies with other men, and Char enjoys embracing the role of a “hot wife” as Bry watches.
“The cancer diagnosis made me want to live life to the fullest,” she explains, showing me the “hot wife” tattoo on her arm.
“And that’s exactly why I’m here today.”
Nearby, Bristol content creators Queenie Gee and bikini-clad Summer Reid, 29, are in the hot tub in the OnlyFest area.
Summer tells me, “We swing together, we create content together and we live together,” while Queenie Gee adds: “This festival is a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. We can’t wait.”
As the sun sets and the party gets into full swing, for these revellers the night is just beginning.
Over four days, they can escape their mundane lives and explore their raunchiest fantasies.
And come Monday, they will return to the office with some unforgettable memories . . .
