
Blind steward encourages others to volunteer at Glastonbury Festival
A man has said that being blind has not held him back from volunteering at Glastonbury Festival. Jacob Hare, 21, from Nottingham, is an Oxfam steward and encourages other people with disabilities and impairments to "definitely give it a go". He said that while festivals can be "pretty tricky" at times, due to the different terrains and festival obstacles, he feels incredibly supported by his "Oxfamily".Mr Hare, who attends the festival alongside his mum, Louise Potter, said he also could not do it without her and describes her as being his "second pair of eyes".
He told BBC Radio Somerset that he tries to be as "capable as possible" when he is stewarding but said that there are some things that he "just can't do".Mr Hare has less than 10% of his vision remaining and compares anything that he is still able to see as "blotchy" and as though he is "looking through a colander".The 21-year-old student added: "My vision reduces a lot when it's dark and so getting around is made even harder, but Oxfam has been really good and has made any adjustments that I need."Mr Hare and his mum said that they enjoy going to Glastonbury Festival together and hope that more people with disabilities and impairments will give stewarding a go.
Mr Hare also describes Oxfam as "such a lovely community" and said that there are "always familiar faces around to ask for a hand".He added: "If you can do it and want to do it, then definitely give it a go."
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Glasgow Times
18 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Police assessing videos of Kneecap and Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performances
Rap punk duo Bob Vylan led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of: 'Free, free Palestine' and: 'Death, death to the IDF', before Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' outside one member of the band's upcoming court appearance. In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. Bob Vylan also displayed pro-Palestinian images (Yui Mok/PA) 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC Director General about the Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' There was a display of pro-Palestinian flags and t-shirts during Kneecap's set (Yui Mok/PA) Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During the performance Caireallain said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' He also said a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience. The trio opened with the song Better Way To Live from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including Get Your Brits Out and Hood. Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags. A Bob Vylan member crowd-surfs surrounded by Palestinian flags (Yui Mok/PA) Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. O hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20. Elsewhere at the festival, Haim were revealed as the surprise act on the Park Stage at 7.30pm on Saturday. The band bounced on to the stage in black and silver outfits and tore into a raucous version of hit single The Wire. After the song, singer Danielle Haim said: 'On our first album, we came to Glastonbury and we played the Park Stage, I love you, and it was the best show I had ever played, until now, this tops everything.' The band was revealed as the surprise act with a red LED sign, similar to the one on their new LP I Quit, which was released earlier this year. The sign read 'the Haim show is about to begin'. Haim also dipped into some of their best-known songs, such as Summer Girl, Want You Back and one of their latest singles, Relationships. On the Pyramid Stage, Pulp were revealed to be Patchwork with the Sheffield-formed Britpop band paying homage to their breakthrough 1995 stand-in headline set during the performance.

South Wales Argus
18 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Police assessing videos of Kneecap and Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performances
Rap punk duo Bob Vylan led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of: 'Free, free Palestine' and: 'Death, death to the IDF', before Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' outside one member of the band's upcoming court appearance. In a post on social media, Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. Bob Vylan also displayed pro-Palestinian images (Yui Mok/PA) 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC Director General about the Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. They added: 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. 'The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.' There was a display of pro-Palestinian flags and t-shirts during Kneecap's set (Yui Mok/PA) Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During the performance Caireallain said: 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' He also said a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. O hAnnaidh, 27, wore a keffiyeh during the set, while member JJ O Dochartaigh, who performs under the name DJ Provai, wore his signature tri-coloured balaclava as well as a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action', in reference to the soon-to-be banned campaign group. News broadcasts criticising the hip hop trio played from the sound system before they walked onto the stage were booed by the Glastonbury Festival audience. The trio opened with the song Better Way To Live from their 2024 album Fine Art and also performed tracks including Get Your Brits Out and Hood. Access to the area around the West Holts Stage was closed around 45 minutes before their performance after groups of fans arrived to form a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags. A Bob Vylan member crowd-surfs surrounded by Palestinian flags (Yui Mok/PA) Earlier on Saturday, the BBC confirmed they would not be live-streaming the set but said the performance is likely to be made available on-demand later. O hAnnaidh was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. On June 18, the rapper was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing at the same court on August 20. Elsewhere at the festival, Haim were revealed as the surprise act on the Park Stage at 7.30pm on Saturday. The band bounced on to the stage in black and silver outfits and tore into a raucous version of hit single The Wire. After the song, singer Danielle Haim said: 'On our first album, we came to Glastonbury and we played the Park Stage, I love you, and it was the best show I had ever played, until now, this tops everything.' The band was revealed as the surprise act with a red LED sign, similar to the one on their new LP I Quit, which was released earlier this year. The sign read 'the Haim show is about to begin'. Haim also dipped into some of their best-known songs, such as Summer Girl, Want You Back and one of their latest singles, Relationships. On the Pyramid Stage, Pulp were revealed to be Patchwork with the Sheffield-formed Britpop band paying homage to their breakthrough 1995 stand-in headline set during the performance.


The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Gracie Abrams snogs and parties with boyfriend Paul Mescal until 3am after finishing Glastonbury set
GRACIE ABRAMS finished her set on The Other Stage then headed straight for her significant other – as she snogged and partied with boyfriend Paul Mescal until 3am. Gracie and Paul were joined by his singer sister Nell, as well as his Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones and her photographer boyfriend Ben Seed, at The Glade stage to take in a set by US DJ Seth Troxler. 4 4 4 An onlooker on Friday night said: ' Paul and Gracie were all over each other and couldn't resist a cheeky snog while their pals used the loos. 'Gracie was still full of energy despite playing on The Other Stage just hours before. 'The group were clearly still on a high from her magical performance as the sun set over Worthy Farm.' Paul earned boyfriend points as he got in among the crowd to watch Gracie's set – alongside his fellow Irish actor Andrew Scott, Daisy and Nell. At one point, Daisy was up on Ben's shoulders showing her appreciation for the music. A source said: 'Paul is so proud of Gracie and loved being with their friends as she saw her dream of performing at Glasto come true.' Gracie sang hits including That's So True, Close To You and I Love You, I'm Sorry. But although Paul is now a Hollywood actor and his girlfriend a chart-topping artist, he was overheard telling pals he is a normal person and was camping in just a regular tent like the rest of us. Glad to hear that, Paul. Paul Mescal makes the most of the heatwave with girlfriend Gracie Abrams as they enjoy a picnic at a London park 4