Tragic story behind flag spotted at Glastonbury
Tragic story behind flag spotted at Glastonbury
Callum Powell was diagnosed with oesophageal-gastric cancer in May 2021, and died 12 months later aged 28
A Costa d'El Porto' flag was spotted flying high at the Glastonbury festival
A vibrant flag seen soaring above the Glastonbury crowd carries a heartbreaking tale. Callum Powell, hailing from Ellesmere Port, was an avid festival-goer alongside his mates, always bringing along a Spanish flag bearing the words 'Costa d'El Porto' - a fond tribute to his hometown.
Tragically, Callum succumbed to oesophageal-gastric cancer three years ago at just 28 years old. Since his passing, his family have continued to fly the flag in honour of the young man who "lived life to the full," reports the Liverpool Echo.
Nicola, from Hoylake, previously shared with the ECHO: "Callum loved life and lived it to the full and prior to the diagnosis he was fit and well.
"Cal started going to Glastonbury with friends in 2016 when he was 22, taking with him the newly created flag, 'The Costa Del Porto'. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
"He tried every year to get tickets with his mates and most years they were lucky. He would come home full of amazing stories of bands he had seen. I would always watch Glastonbury on the TV trying to spot his flag flying high. I felt like I was part of it. He managed to go three times in total."
Chloe Powell with her brother Callum Powell
(Image: Chloe Powell )
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Before the event was postponed for two years due to Covid-19 restrictions, Callum had secured tickets to Glastonbury 2020, during which time he fell ill.
In March 2021, Callum first noticed something was amiss when he began having trouble swallowing, leading doctors to initially suspect glandular fever or a stomach ulcer.
However, following further tests in May that year, Callum received a diagnosis of terminal oesophageal-gastric cancer and sadly passed away 12 months later.
The 28-year-old's funeral took place ten days before he was due to attend the rescheduled Glastonbury festival in June 2022. During the BBC's coverage of Glastonbury, Callum's 'Costa d'El Porto' flag was visibly flying high, and an image was shared by a member of the Pride in the Port Facebook group.
Over the years, the flag has undergone changes, much like the festival itself. This included the addition of Liver Birds in honour of Liverpool Football Club, while stars at the top signified the years Liverpool won the European Cup. The stars below represented the years Callum and his friends attended Glastonbury.
Nicola described Callum's flag as a "true reflection of his character" as someone who was "always bringing everyone together for fun times during the most special moments, giving us memories that will last a lifetime."
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