Denied!

It is hard to believe that half a century has passed since attending the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970 with two schoolmates. Jimi Hendrix came on stage around 1am after a very long day. After two numbers I nodded off and was devastated to hear the MC thank him for a great set. Bob Geldof was in the year above us in school and we met up by chance – he thought it hilarious to destroy our deathtrap of a tent made from bin liners and straw, but we forgave him. Virgin Records was a mail order outfit then with a small marquee taking orders – I paid the man £2 for my selection (Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out) and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived two weeks later; I still have it. It might not have been Richard Branson who served me, but I like to think it was.

Arthur Crummie, Sunderland