Stewarding Glastonbury Festival
Wells Rotary has been stewarding the Festival for over 35 years: not only have we raised over £100,000 for humanitarian projects but also have seen a lot of amazing artists. We all have personal memories and highlights from the experience.
When Wells Rotary started the Glastonbury Festival stewarding team about 35 years ago, the Festival and the role itself were very different from today. With no effective Festival fence, and a general anti establishment atmosphere, the job of keeping marauding gatecrashers out of villagers’ houses and gardens was a full-on and sometimes risky task. The area of the village which we patrol, around the 13th century tithe barn and Michael Eavis’ house, was very tempting for those who were seeking a way into the Festival without a ticket; and we regularly found ourselves challenging dark figures crouching in bushes or about to enter someone’s garden.
The wild old days reached their climax in 2002. The gangs of Liverpool scallies and the drug dealers found themselves barred by the new steel fence. A running battle ended with the security guards holding firm; and ever since, the old days of anarchy have mellowed into the more relaxed and family friendly Festival we see today. The only stressful part of our job these days is having to decide whether the guy who says he’s Chris Martin from Coldplay and a friend of Michael’s really is him, or just some chancer trying to get past us to kip in the tithe barn.
Our earliest teams consisted mainly of Club members, but it soon became obvious that their kids were more than happy to take their place in return for a ticket. And their parents were very pleased to forego the long dark nights on patrol, with a dodgy torch and radio (the batteries supplied always run out after about the second day).
Across this period Wells Rotary has raised more than £100,000 for humanitarian projects and seen a lot of amazing artists along the way. We all have personal memories and highlights from the sort of experiences that don’t normally come our way in sleepy Somerset.
A big thank you to the Eavis family, long may our fruitful relationship with the Festival continue!
Contact John Boucher about this page:
'What We Do' Main Pages:
What a great thing to do: collecting around 120 trees and raising funds for St. Margaret’s Hospice.
more
Helping the blind and partially sighted
more
Each week a team of listeners goes to St Cuthbert’s Primary School to listen to children read. It is so rewarding to see the positive impact on the children’s reading skills.
moreJune was the last month with President Angela in the chair and still the heart and soul of the club.
moreTo find our further detail on meetings and events please contact club President Angela
more
RotaKids Success
moreQuiet but Nevertheless busy Months
moreA busy month but with some disappointment
more
At Wells Rotary Club we are involved with various activities within the community, from working with young people through Kids Out, Young Chef and Public speaking, to organising the Santa Fun Run and Christmas Tree Collection.
moreRotary District 1200 comprises Wells Rotary along with the other rotary clubs of Somerset, West Wilts and West Dorset. Circa 1200 is our district news sheet. Follow the link below to Circa 1200 to see what is going on across Somerset
more
Conscious of the need for rapid access to defibrillators following a coronary event, Wells Rotary has been working to make these life-saving machines available to the public at all times. It is an ongoing project.
moreRotary in Wells is part of the global Rotary International, working with other clubs to eradicate polio, to help with other natural disasters, and to help those less fortunate than ourselves elsewhere in the world
more
Held annually in the Bishop's Palace gardens in the centre of Wells, the Wells Charity Boules Tournament is a fun event for all of the family.
more
Wells Rotary has been stewarding the Festival for over 35 years: not only have we raised over £100,000 for humanitarian projects but also have seen a lot of amazing artists. We all have personal memories and highlights from the experience.
more
In commemoration of the Queens Platinum Jubilee the West and East Mendip Ways were re-launched as a single 50-mile walk branded as "The Mendip Way".
more