The Archive
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Last updated Jan 2013
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It began as an experiment in a new society of love and mutual co-operation ,functioned for six short days as a model world where all differences of creed, colour and politics were non-existent and ended in a nightmare that bore more than a passing resemblance to the wounded Knee massacre. The third Windsor festival was not a pop music festival, but a gathering of thousands of people , young and old, to experience for nine days the realisation of living what has been termed an alternative society. The creation of a tent city of people who longed to return to the simpler life of tribal concept . While the world outside looked in and saw nothing but the stages from which blared rock music, those who penetrated deeper became aware that by comparison to what was actually taking place , the music was incidental. The Reverend Brian Ferguson |
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Despite this , before the lamentable events of the last day, there were many successful aspects to the festival.
Brian Ferguson
The only comparison to the true functioning of the festival that comes to mind is the annual gathering of the tribes of north American Indians.
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Photo © Peter Glanvill |
We are peaceable people enjoying a holiday festival in time honoured fashion. lf the police would only go away and stop harassing and dominating the festival there would be no trouble. All we ask is to be left alone to enjoy ourselves in peace. Bill Dwyer
Left: When the police moved to evict those remaining on the festival site on the morning of August 29th, many of those who attempted to take photographs close to the action either had their film destroyed by the police or were arrested . The plucky Jenny, who sent us the photo on the left , managed to avoid both fates and has now sent us her photographs . Despite her close encounters with the law she still has fond memories of the festival...... |
I was sweet 16, quite naive back then but the few days it ran are etched in my memory for life, people calling where's Wally? all night - watching the sun come up, giving up sugar in coffee (as there was none) 'Johnny be good' sang at most stages at some point during the day, spot the drug squad (obvious wigs and cut trouser bottoms) food hand out kitchens, happy people and people as high as kites, my first wrap around skirt , walking into the town to wash in the public loo's, meeting my brothers Spanish friends (lovely people kindly put us up for a few days when we were kicked out of the park) the list goes on and on, it was a good experience and I was glad to be part of it. My Brother played in a band back then, I think it was 'Here and Now' and his girl friend sang in a band I couldn't tell you the name of it but her name was Suze.
Jenny
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