- Title: U.K.: ISLE OF WIGHT POP FESTIVAL GETS UNDER WAY.
- Date: 26th August 1970
- Summary: HITCH-HIKERS ON WAY TO ISLE OF WIGHT , CORRUGATED FENCE DAUBED WITH PAINT, AND SECTIONS LYING ON GROUND: SECURITY GUARDS PATROLLING IN LAND ROVER: AUDIENCE IN FRONT OF STAGE: GUARD DOS AND HANDLERS PATROLLING TURN-STILES: ROAD-MANAGERS LOADING AMPLIFIERS ONTO STAGE: POLICE MOTORCYCLISTS LEAVING FOR PATROL: VARIOUS SHOTS CROWDS OF YOUNGSTERS LISTENING. (NATURAL SOUND ON FILM THROUGHOUT). Initials CG/PMW/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 10th September 1970 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ISLE OF WIGHT, U.K.
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAEROYVOUL85MXYYNIBSKLK7ZV5
- Story Text: This years's Isle of Wight pop festival got off to a noisy but peaceful start today
(Wednesday) with only a small proportion of the expected 250,000 crowd in attendance.
Meanwhile, thousands of young people are converging on the tiny Island by all
means of transport available-mainly hitch-hiking--to get to the festival in time
for the main star attractions over the coming Bank Holiday weekend.
In a brief outburst of violence yesterday (Tuesday), a crowd of fans led by a
group of American hippies called "The White Panthers" broke down part of a fence
in protest to entrance charges at the festival. The organisers, Fiery Creations,
responded by making attendance at the first two days of the festival free at an
estimated loss in revenue of GBP20,000 sterling.
But the organisers are making double sure there are no gate-crashers this year.
Strong detachments of security guards with dogs are on constant watch for
troublemakers or fans trying to slip into the concert area without paying.
As the first groups started to play today, police officers disguised as hippies
in wigs and colourful kaftans infiltrated the crowds and arrested ten youngsters
for drug offences. They will appear in court tomorrow at Newport, the Island's
main town.
Fans from all five continents are heading to the Isle of Wight for what promises
to be Britain's biggest-ever pop music festival. The sudden influx of visitors
to such a small community has had unexpected effects; many of the grocery shops
have run out of supplies as thousands of youngsters stock up for the long
weekend of music. Then police were called to investigate a rumour that L.S.D.
had been injected into the festival water supply.
However, as the first blasts of amplified music were heard over the festival
area this afternoon, police said they were very pleased with the situation so
far. The youngsters appeared to be just sitting back and enjoying themselves.
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