Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis honoured with town’s freedom
The founder of the legendary festival has been honoured for "services to the town and the local economy"
By Nick Reilly
Glastonbury Festival founder and co-organiser Michael Eavis has been honoured with the Freedom of Glastonbury to mark his huge contribution to the town.
Glastonbury Town Council voted unanimously in favour of the honour back in March, following a nomination from town mayor Councillor Jon Cousins and deputy mayor, Councillor Serena Roney-Dougal to mark his “services to the town and the local economy”.
He received the honour last night (May 5) during a ceremony at Glastonbury Town Hall.
While Glastonbury states that the award is “mostly symbolic”, it does state that Eavis is allowed “the right to run his sheep through the centre of the town”.
In a previous statement, Cllr. Cousins said: “I can think of no one more fitting of receiving this honour. This is an opportunity to acknowledge that, as founder of the Glastonbury Festival, Michael has helped to promote Glastonbury for over 50 years – both nationally and internationally – a true life-time’s work.”
The award comes as Michael and daughter Emily gear up for Glastonbury’s anticipated return next month.
Following a two-year COVID-related hiatus, the festival will return to Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset between June 22 and 26. Organisers unveiled the first wave of acts in March, with Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar set to top the bill.
Other big names to have previously been confirmed for Glastonbury 2022 include Lorde, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Wolf Alice, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Megan Thee Stallion and Sam Fender.