30 replies to this topic

[jamesontheverge]

eFestivals, on 17 February 2011 - 04:23 PM, said:

.... I deliberately put 'about' because I wasn't sure if there'd been a fest in '88 or not without looking it up.

But I picked '88 and not '89 because as far as I can remember (and maybe I'm wrong), '89 was the year of the security/travellers 'battles', and I have a feeling that they'd stopped people driving onto site by the year of those 'battles'.

But it was all a long time ago now, and trying to distinguish one from another from back then is hard now, and getting harder.

The riot was in 1990. There was a year off in 1991 (great free festival over the solstice at rat's run) and then a more secure than before fence went up in 1992. as far as i remember that was the first year i needed a vehicle pass for my tk

[guypjfreak]

jamesontheverge, on 17 February 2011 - 06:04 PM, said:

The riot was in 1990. There was a year off in 1991 (great free festival over the solstice at rat's run) and then a more secure than before fence went up in 1992. as far as i remember that was the first year i needed a vehicle pass for my tk

hi there james wot you making this year ???

[Paul ™]

1990 was definately the year their was issues with security/travellers issue.

I wasn't there that year, but as far as am aware Specialized had a small amount of staff on site working (perhaps stages/beer tents)

Obviously the festival wasn't on in 91, but my first year was in '92 and that was the year that the travellers tried to gain access at Blue Gate (A361) briefly seen on Julien Temples film.
I remember that well as we had guys arriving down by coach to work and they got to the gate and had to get off to assist the police/stewards on the gate!

Definately was no parking next to cars in 1992 anyway, we did the permiter fence those days too and I was positioned at the Traders Gate (which back then was right next to Anne Goodes house. Despite her being against the festival, she had some of the Channel 4 film crew staying at hers as they came through my gate. She also brought us out a flask of tea and home made scones  

Ahh the good old days

[glasto-worker]

Paul ™, on 17 February 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

1990 was definately the year their was issues with security/travellers issue.

I wasn't there that year, but as far as am aware Specialized had a small amount of staff on site working (perhaps stages/beer tents)

Ahh the good old days

Although some people have some romantic notion of the Peace Convoy { mainly people who were not there } I know that Michael Eavis was pulling his hair out - I did meet Michael and Jean in the WBC guest bar in 1989 and the situation with regards the travellers had been bubling over for a few years.

I can confirm that Specialized was guarding the beer tents - WBC Campsite in 1989 and may have been working in a few other areas but cant say what they were .  

-------------

I did mention this in a thread about a year or two ago.

Up in the old market area used to be what was called The Reggae Tent { run by some Rastafarians
from Bath or Bristol }

It was supposed to be a cafe but I don't think there was many cups of tea sold - in fact it was a very open market !!

I suspect that they ran that marquee up until the year when cars in general were blocked from entry so if we could nail down that date we may be able to solve the parking by tents mystery.

So who can remember The Reggae Tent ?

[jamesontheverge]

glasto-worker, on 17 February 2011 - 09:47 PM, said:

Although some people have some romantic notion of the Peace Convoy

Hmmmm, i was living in a vehicle at the time and i'm not sure you are entirely aware of what actually went on. The security were like a private army of thugs who were on a mission of revenge after their outrageous behaviour the previous year at Treworgy. I witnessed both Treworgy and Pilton Riot the following year. Yes, a very small minority of travellers were out of order but there was no need for what happened. Read this , esp the eyewitness reports towards the bottom of the page,  http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/glastonbury-festival-1990.html

[glasto-worker]

I was only writing with what happened to Michael as he was being blackmailed and there was demands for this that and the other - he was being painted into a corner and ' it was his land after all '

This had been going on for several years and I know he did not like the threats.

If I had been in his situation I would have felt the same way.

[jamesontheverge]

glasto-worker, on 17 February 2011 - 10:55 PM, said:

I was only writing with what happened to Michael as he was being blackmailed and there was demands for this that and the other - he was being painted into a corner and ' it was his land after all '

This had been going on for several years and I know he did not like the threats.

If I had been in his situation I would have felt the same way.

you are one of the few people on here that have been to more glastonburys than me!  i suspect that there may have been times when we have been on opposides of the fence :-)    just out of interest, did you read the contents of the link i posted?

[glasto-worker]

Yes I did read that link I do recall the events as it was in the news and did speak to some Security who were working for the WBC at Reading 1990 who claimed were involved in the stand off at Glastonbury .

The report on that link ' links ' security at two separate events and who can say who was at both.

All I know is there is lots of Companies employed in Security { and there is now even more than they used to be } and some people may move between Companies in the same season so its impossible to prove or disprove who was out to prove a point.

I do know that from previous years that the Peace Convoy { the name the media used }  did appear to attract a lot more people and it was difficult to know who was really in it and who was latching on to them .All I know is the area they camped in was getting more crowded every year .

I certainly do think the Police Commander was wrong with the events that was called The Battle of the Beanfield in 1985 but this may have given the Peace Convoy more publicity that ' may ' have attracted more people who were out to prove a point - all I know is there was a dangerous edge to the Peace Convoy and the atmosphere at Glastonbury was not as good as it used to be.

I know its sad to say but the writing was on the wall for free festivals and if Glastonbury was not so well organised there would be no Glastonbury now.

Look at it the other way -  If you were Michael what would you have done ?

[greenfairy43]

http://www.ukrockfes...tival-1983.html

This one reminds me a lot of what it was like when I first went in 1986. I drove the car in & pitched right next to it. My mate climbed in through a hedge & somehow found each other. In 1987 we camped in the King's Meadow, where the stones are now. We had tickets as we were Greenfield ground crew, but we cycled there from the station, so we just let ourselves in through a fram gate at the top of the field.


Eeee, it's changed....

[Milbert]

I miss all the travellers being there. I appreciate it had to stop for licensing reasons, but they certainly added something to the mix.

[paulo999]

G1T, on 17 February 2011 - 02:23 PM, said:

Ground to a halt with them sadly due to time, and it's a pretty laborious task to get it spot on to Glasto Earth's exacting standards  

I'm flattered by public reference to my pedantry.