Glastonbury Festival is just days away so you would be forgiven if you believed founder and organiser, Michael Eavis, was running around Worthy Farmy like a headless chicken with an endless list of jobs.
But in fact, the Somerset-born man had more pressing issues to attend to. Along with his family, he welcomed ex-footballer and TV presenter Gary Lineker to Pilton to celebrate the completion of a further 20 social rent homes in the village, bringing the total number of affordable homes built on land donated by Michael to 52.
Gary planted a tree with Michael and his grandchildren at the site – named Athelstan’s Meadow – just around the corner from where the festival takes place. The land and the stone for these new houses – built by EG Carter in partnership with the Guinness Partnership – was provided free of charge from Worthy Farm with contributions for dressing the stone from the Workers Beer Company, who provide bars at the Festival.
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“Pilton is really important to me,” says Michael. “It’s where I was born, where I have lived man and boy, where I have brought up my family, and, of course, it has been home to the Festival for more than 50 years now. With rural house prices so often out of reach for local people, these houses give villagers, most of whom are working families who live around here, the opportunity to live here for the rest of their lives at a social rent.”
“I started to build these houses 30 years ago with funding from the government and now that this scheme is finished, it brings the total number of houses available to 52. Of all the things I’ve done in my life, this is the one I’m most proud of.”
Ex-footballer David Beckham officially opened the previous set of homes to be completed at the site in 2017, with the Prince of Wales opening the first wave of houses in 2010.
And Gary wasn't there just for the pictures, the presenter also planted a snowberry tree. It's not been confirmed if the football star will be at this year's festival, but he has been known to show his face in the past.
Gary was spotted at the event in 2019, when rapper Stormzy headlined. There are always lots of VIP guests popping up among the crowds, so revellers should keep their eyes peeled next week.
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