Tales from Glastonbury 1989

After that things get a little hazy. Somehow around a dozen or so of us arrived at Worthy Farm, the site of the festival.

I couldn’t drive at the time so I didn’t help with anything but petrol money.

I recall we all circled the area, found a quiet, secluded spot… Then when the coast was clear made a run for it, jumped over a fence and, hey presto, we were in a field pitching a tent.

I think we had one four-person-tent between us. We never thought about what would happen if the weather turned bad. In that respect we got lucky and the rain held off.

I do, however, remember being very hungry, as we were - to use parlance of the day - "totally skint”.

On our first day I strolled over to the Pyramid Stage and somehow blagged my way backstage. I have no idea how.

A few minutes later I’m watching Van Morrison, taking pictures of Martin Stephenson, of The Dainties fame, The Proclaimers, also shooting Peter Gabriel and Youssou N'dour and listening to Fairground Attraction.

Only people of a certain age may be impressed by that.

As always, I had my cameras with me: a couple of second-hand Nikons and a few lenses (a 28mm, 50mm and I think a 105mm), some colour transparency and a few ready-rolled black and white films.

Fast forward more than 25 years on. While clearing out a cupboard recently I found six rolls of black and white film marked “Glastonbury ’89” - the colour film was lost.

Those film canisters caught my eye as I was preparing to return to the festival.

Way too many things have changed in the years that have gone by but some things always stay the same - I still have Nikons and a few lenses.

I can't help thinking when I look back through these pictures: I wasn’t only learning how to use a camera but also working on an important talent.

Getting myself into places where I really ought not to be.

Back to the future in 2015, I’m taking another crack at Glastonbury.

Bring it on.