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A panel
of judges has carefully sifted through your suggestions.
They
were looking for the iconic figure of Somerset, whether it be a
famous
person from history, a showbiz star, well-known musician, sports
personality, or just a well-respected person who has inspired other
people.
They
had the difficult task of choosing who from Somerset goes forward
to the West Country final... and after much deliberation they decided
Somerset's Local Hero should be Michael Eavis.
About
Somerset's Local Hero
Michael
Eavis is organiser and founder of one of Europe's largest music
festivals.
Take
150,000 music fans, a very large field here in Somerset, innumerable
tents, add some of the world's greatest bands and what do you get?
Quite
simply: Glasto!
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Michael
Eavis during last year's festival |
But
none of its trademarks, the first-class bands, the jugglers, fire-eaters,
poets, veggies and others, would come together in such a manner
each June, without the benign presence of the festival's creator
and guiding light, Michael Eavis.
Eavis
is probably the best-known - certainly the best-loved - music promoter
in the world.
The
Methodist dairy farmer - and proud owner of the 600-acre Worthy
Farm in Pilton - has been welcoming festival goers to his patch
since 1970.
Back
in those days, when entrance was £1 with a free pint of milk thrown
in.
This
year, a ticket will set you back £112 plus postage and handling.
More
than thirty years of music
The
loon-panted, tied-dyed hippy crowd of 1,500 swayed to bands like
T Rex and Hawkwind, as well as the now-forgotten Amazing Blondel
and Steamhammer.
Farmer
Eavis is resolutely a local man. Born in 1935, he was educated at
the Cathedral School in nearby Wells and then a merchant naval college.
He
sailed the world, working for the Union Castle shipping line, before
inheriting the farm on his father's death in 1958.
In
1969, he and his second wife, Jean, spent a day at the Bath Blues
festival.
So
impressed were they that they decided to hold their own festival,
at home, the following year.
Thus,
a day after the death of Jimi Hendrix, a legend was born.
Michael
Eavis has said his motives were simple: "I liked pop music and people
so it seemed like a good idea to put the two together.
"It
was all quite naive when we started, we really hadn't a clue."
Jousting
with authority
And,
even though the festival has grown a hundred-fold, his view still
remains the same: book some bands, organise the food, other entertainments
and security, sell tickets and give the profits to charity.
Although
it thrived during the 1970s, Glastonbury really took-off in the
1980s.
Seen
by many as a rallying-point against Thatcherism, its pro-CND stance
during the 80s - guided by Eavis - brought political, as well as
musical, relevance.
And
acts like Aswad, Elvis Costello and Billy Bragg combined pop and
polemics.
The
Eighties also brought the first confrontation with authority.
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1998's
festival is remembered as a muddy one! |
Travellers
rioted in 1990, the festival was cancelled in 1988, 1991 and 1996,
to offer a breather to Michael and Jean Eavis (who died in 1999).
And
it did not take place in 2001 because of security fears.
Today,
a vast fence surrounds the site.
But,
largely due to Eavis himself, the festival is probably healthier
today than ever.
Last
year, tickets sold out within 18 hours, even before the line-up
was announced.
After
last year's festival, Michael said: "We had the best festival
ever in 2003, and 2004 will be even better."
District
councillors in Mendip were convinced - they voted 10 to one in favour
of granting a public entertainment licence for the 2004 festival.
This
year's tickets go on sale on 1 April.
Labour
candidate
"He's
incredible. Such a public figure - just like Santa," said Steve
Sutherland, editorial director of the music paper, NME.
"He's
generous, egalitarian, but a canny character.
"One
minute he can be as hard as nails, the next he plays the naïve farmer.
"All
to get what he wants, the best for the festival."
His
role includes hand-picking the acts, whether they be Bob Dylan,
David Bowie or Oasis, and turning others down.
In
2003, Michael Eavis said "thanks, but no thanks" to none other than
Sir Paul McCartney.
A number
of years ago, another Beatle, the late George Harrison, received
the same answer.
But
the man, like the festival, is about more than just music.
He
remains a committed environmentalist and stood for the Labour Party
in Wells at the 1997 general election, losing but adding 16,000
to the party's vote.
Now
married for a third time, Michael Eavis has said that he will, one
day, leave the running of the festival to his daughter, Emily.
His
will be a huge act to follow.
As
Steve Sutherland put it: "Ask anyone and they'll agree that the
unique spirit at Glastonbury is mostly down to Michael."
Who
is the West's Local Hero?
Michael
Eavis from Somerset joined finalists from Bristol, Gloucestershire,
Swindon and Wiltshire to battle for the title of Local Hero for
the West of England.
The
West's chosen Local Hero, Sir Frank Whittle, will now feature in
a 40-minute documentary to be shown on BBC ONE later in the year.
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