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He was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2007, but was officially given the CBE by the Queen five months later.

Pomp and Ceremony

"It was great fun," said the 72-year-old. "Full of pomp and ceremony.

"It was very very colourful, with Beefeaters and people marching about with fantastic gear on.  It was just the business.

Thousands come to Worthy Farm every year

"The Queen was on very good form.  She was very interested in the Festival and how it began and whether the farm had recovered and all the rest of it so she was well clued up on it."

Eavis did express his surprise about being awarded the CBE because the Glastonbury Festival has had a slightly anti-establishment role over the last 30 years.  But he welcomed the recognition that the award brought.

"It is a major cultural event in the world," Eavis said. "Certainly in Europe anyway - and so the establishment have realised it's something to be proud of."

The Pistols on Top of the Pops, 1977

From the Palace to Punk

And somewhat fittingly, the founder of the Pilton Pop Festival chose to round off the day by heading off to check out a band.

"I'm going to see the Sex Pistols tonight," he revealed. "I've taken all my togs off and I've got my working clothes on now, so I'm the ordinary farmer going down to Brixton and seeing what sort of a job they make of it without Sid Vicious."