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Glastonbury kicks off with sunshine and selfies Glastonbury kicks off with sunshine and selfies
(about 1 hour later)
The gates have opened, the tents are up and the rain has held off – for now. Tens of thousands of people have poured into Worthy Farm in Somerset armed with rain coats, wellies and wheelbarrows of alcohol, eager to soak up the first – and perhaps only – sun of Glastonbury weekend. The gates have opened, the tents are up and the rain has held off – for now. Tens of thousands of people have poured into Worthy Farm in Somerset armed with raincoats, wellies and wheelbarrows of alcohol, eager to soak up the first – and perhaps only – sun of Glastonbury weekend.
Amid forecasts of downpours from Friday onwards, the first of the 135,000 ticketholders set up their tents under blue skies. By lunchtime on Wednesday, thousands of campers had pitched their temporary homes in front of the famous Pyramid Stage where Florence and the Machine, Kanye West and The Who will headline over the weekend. After forecasts of downpours from Friday onwards, the first of the 135,000 ticketholders set up their tents under blue skies. By lunchtime on Wednesday, thousands of campers had pitched their temporary homes in front of the Pyramid Stage where Florence and the Machine, Kanye West and the Who will headline over the weekend.
Among those waiting for the gates to open at 7.30pm on Tuesday night were Julian and Sandra Williams, who travelled from Pembroke, south Wales, with their son Jack and daughters Rosie and Harriet to make sure they got a prime spot.Among those waiting for the gates to open at 7.30pm on Tuesday night were Julian and Sandra Williams, who travelled from Pembroke, south Wales, with their son Jack and daughters Rosie and Harriet to make sure they got a prime spot.
“I felt a bit like a sheep going through the turnstiles, but we had to get here early because we want to get the pitch up at the main stage with our big Welsh flag,” said Julian, decked out in a floral print shirt and camouflage shorts. It’s changed for the good over the years: much less crowd crushing. I’m mainly looking forward to the people, not the music. Imagine all this happening without the people.” “I felt a bit like a sheep going through the turnstiles, but we had to get here early because we want to get the pitch up at the main stage with our big Welsh flag,” said Julian, decked out in a floral print shirt and camouflage shorts. “It’s changed for the good over the years: much less crowd crushing. I’m mainly looking forward to the people, not the music. Imagine all this happening without the people.”
And Rosie said: “All of us [kids] were conceived at Glastonbury so we always come together. One year mum and dad went without us. We had to unplug the phone, and turn off the TV.” And Rosie said: “All of us [kids] were conceived at Glastonbury so we always come together. One year Mum and Dad went without us. We had to unplug the phone, and turn off the TV.”
Daniela Rodrigues, 26, and Josi Santos, 30, arrived from Portugal on Tuesday evening, abandoning a plan to stay a night in Bristol because they ran out of money.Daniela Rodrigues, 26, and Josi Santos, 30, arrived from Portugal on Tuesday evening, abandoning a plan to stay a night in Bristol because they ran out of money.
“There was some partying last night. But generally everybody’s embracing the spirituality of Glastonbury. I’m embracing it,” said Santos. “We’ve been a couple for six or seven years. This festival is different from the others. You can sleep in front of the Pyramid stage – it’s great!”“There was some partying last night. But generally everybody’s embracing the spirituality of Glastonbury. I’m embracing it,” said Santos. “We’ve been a couple for six or seven years. This festival is different from the others. You can sleep in front of the Pyramid stage – it’s great!”
Around 600 police officers have been drafted in to keep the peace at the festival, with those on bicycles or horseback being the selfie backdrop of choice for Wednesday’s campers. Around 600 police officers have been drafted in to keep the peace at the festival, and those on bicycles or horseback were the selfie backdrop of choice for Wednesday’s campers.
A well-publicised crackdown on legal highs is also in force, with organisers wishing to rid the event of nitrous oxide – a potent drug that led to two tonnes of discarded canisters being cleaned up by hand after last year’s festival. A well-publicised crackdown on legal highs is in force, with organisers wishing to rid the event of nitrous oxide – a potent drug that led to two tonnes of discarded canisters being cleaned up by hand after last year’s festival.
There had been no arrests by Wednesday morning. Last year, there were 110, a five-year low after 163 ticketholders were kicked out of the site by police in 2013. By Wednesday morning there had been no arrests. Last year there were 110 in total, a five-year low, after 163 ticketholders were kicked out of the site by police in 2013.
If the weather forecasts looked promising for Wednesday and Thursday, it was all due to go slightly downhill from Friday morning – just as the first bands appear onstage. If the weather forecasts look promising for Wednesday and Thursday, it is all set to go slightly downhill from Friday morning – just as the first bands appear onstage.
Showers are expected for most of Friday, giving way to a dry evening, with light rain on Saturday morning due to pass before most campers have stumbled out of their tents. More showers are expected on Sunday morning and again in the evening.Showers are expected for most of Friday, giving way to a dry evening, with light rain on Saturday morning due to pass before most campers have stumbled out of their tents. More showers are expected on Sunday morning and again in the evening.
Bookmakers have put the odds of rain every day at 4/7. They also predicted a stormy set from rapper West, who may prove to be one of Glastonbury’s most controversial headliners in recent years.Bookmakers have put the odds of rain every day at 4/7. They also predicted a stormy set from rapper West, who may prove to be one of Glastonbury’s most controversial headliners in recent years.
A petition on the site Change.org saw 133,000 call for the rapper’s set to be cancelled, while Ladbrokes has odds of 2/1 for West to be booed off stage. The chance of him mud-wrestling with his wife, the tabloid starlet Kim Kardashian, was put at 100/1. A petition on Change.org calling for his set to be cancelled drew 133,000 backers, and Ladbrokes has odds of 2/1 for West to be booed off stage. The chance of him mud-wrestling with his wife, the tabloid starlet Kim Kardashian, was put at 100/1.