Hawk Editorial is the publisher of H&E naturist magazine, the leading publication for those who like to live life as unencumbered by clothes as possible.
H&E was established in 1900 and is therefore one of the oldest magazines in continuous publication. In its early days, the magazine covered health topics such as diet, exercise, herbalism and general advice on living a healthy and efficient life.
In the 1920s when nudists began publicising their activities and sun clubs began to form, Health & Efficiency – as it was originally known – became an early champion of their cause through publishing their letters, articles and photos. Later, this material occupied a greater proportion of the magazine, particularly as it absorbed other naturist and health periodicals, including Health and Vim and Sunbathing and Health Magazine.
After the Second World War, nudism became more popular and the monthly H&E promoted the lifestyle option, and throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s the magazine’s reputation as the “nudist bible” grew. H&E‘s audience was made up of nudists who were members of British clubs and those who used British beaches. A small minority who were able to afford holidays abroad, and sampled French and Yugoslavian nudist facilities, provided H&E with the first ‘naturists abroad’ travel reports. By the 1970s, cheaper foreign travel allowed many more British naturists to visit the south of France, Spain, Greece and Yugoslavia. H&E reflected this change and soon became an international naturist magazine providing news, travel reports, features and photography from around the naturist world.
The magazine has had a number of publishers and editors, and has been based in London, Epsom, Goole and, latterly, Hull. In 2012, Hawk Editorial Ltd took over the running over the magazine, and Sam Hawcroft edited and designed it for a decade before handing the editorial reins on to Paul Rouse in January 2022.