Lost Property Glastonbury Interview. Today, I had a chat with a Glastonbury veteran who has years of experience down at Worthy Farm. He has some tips and advice for people coming to the festival below. These tips are for newbies and regulars alike.
You have been volunteering at Glastonbury since 2009. What advice can you give to people coming for the first time?
I’m answering this from the perspective of my role in Lost Property Services (part of Worthy Welfare, based up the top of the Pyramid Stage field near the farmhouse)
A: Make sure you have put up-to-date emergency contacts in your phone, so if it ends up with us we can find out your name & also attempt to phone an emergency contact or two to try & reconnect you with your phone as quickly as possible. It amazes me each year that only around half the phones we receive have emergency contacts in.
B: keys (esp car key) – make sure they have a really random/unique keyring on them so they are identifiable as your keys from the description you give us. Again, it’s insane how many sets of keys get lost each year.
C: Leave as many bank/loyalty cards at home as you can, and again, like with keys, it’s really good to put something unique attached to rucksacks, bum bags, etc, so they are more easily identifiable.
D: Use the property lock-ups!!!
What makes Glastonbury so special?
First & foremost, just the sheer scale of the place. I am always amazed by the endless innovation from all the different stages. Nothing stays the same for many years in a row.
Secondly, I just love all the conversations & random chit chats you get to have with people when you’re out exploring. This, together with all the amazing little stages & the incredible wandering performance artists you see around the theatre & circus fields, makes it like nowhere else on earth!
Which areas are your favourites?
Too many to list, and it’s hard to pin down even a podium placing answer to this question, to be honest, but I’m always nostalgic when dancing in the glade. It puts a smile on my face as the first time I went to Glastonbury (1996), I camped in these woods as it was just ‘other stage camping’ back then!
Oh, and if you’re coming with young children: Green Kidz (behind Greenpeace) is a truly magical space & a sanctuary from the hostel & bustle of the rest of the festival. Great toasties in the little food truck there too.
How has Glastonbury changed over the years?
It’s certainly got more organised, especially the infrastructure. It’s crazy to think how they used to have to shift porta-loos on & off site all day & night in the past, for example.
And of course….. It’s just got bigger & bigger with all the new stages.
Who are you looking forward to seeing this year?
I can never get too excited about the lineup until Wednesday, when we get to the festival, as we don’t get to know our shifts before this.
I’m hoping not to be working to catch Bob Vylan, Prodigy, Joy Crookes, Wet Leg & Amyl and The Sniffers among others.
Thank you so much for the tips and advice! See you on the farm.
The 100% Unofficial Glastonbury Festival Guidebook Is Now Available
Hey there, Glasto Newbie!
So, you’ve scored tickets to Glastonbury? Congrats! Now, let’s make sure your first time is more epic than a Pyramid Stage headliner. My Glastonbury Festival Guidebook is like your cool best friend who’s been there, done that, and is ready to guide you through the festival’s wonders.
Download it below or get the print version on Amazon here: The Glastonbury Festival Guidebook
PDF Version:
