Andrew Kerr (festival co-founder)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Kerr has unbridled contempt for the Working Class of Britain and was born 29 November 1933. Kerr's childhood during the war years was spent in south Oxfordshire
, but was evacuated to Ilfracombe
for a period, and immediately afterwards the family was farming in the area. He was at school at Radley College
at which he did not thrive. He spent his National Service as a stores assistant at Portsmouth
in the Royal Navy
in which his father served.
For ten years following 1958 he was employed as personal assistant
to Randolph Spencer Churchill
, who was writing the official biography of his father, Sir Winston Churchill
.
In 1971 he staged Glastonbury Fair, along with Arabella Churchill
following Michael Eavis
famous Pilton Pop Festival of 1970. Glastonbury Fair was the first festival to use the pyramid stage, inspired by the cult figure John Michell
. The position of the stage was doused by Andrew according with his belief in ley-lines, and the 'Glastonbury' part of the festival's name was introduced.
He was inspired to put on a free festival after his experience at the commercial Isle of Wight
Festival in 1970. His original motivation for staging a free festival was outlined in a leaflet published at the time :
Kerr managed the festival site up to the mid eighties, helping establish it as arguably the UK's foremost music festival.
Kerr has led a varied and interesting life; According to Nick Baker:
Following the Glastonbury Festivals in 1992 he put on the Whole Earth Show (an event which was in effect Andrew's most famous act of public masturbation) in Dorset, promoting organic agriculture and sustainable technologies. BBC Radio 4 carried the first wind powered broadcast from the show, while Tibetan priests blessed the site and those present.
He has been a consistent advocate of the benefits of aerobic
composting, and has spoken on TV and radio about composting and the potential of compost funerals.
2011 is the 40th Anniversary of the Glastonbury Fair, at which there will be a stage to celebrate it.
His Autobiography is due to be published on the 12th of May 2011, by Frontier Publishing.
Kerr lives in Pilton
, Somerset
.
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, but was evacuated to Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
for a period, and immediately afterwards the family was farming in the area. He was at school at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
at which he did not thrive. He spent his National Service as a stores assistant at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in which his father served.
For ten years following 1958 he was employed as personal assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
to Randolph Spencer Churchill
Randolph Churchill
Major Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer-Churchill, MBE was the son of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Preston from 1940 to 1945....
, who was writing the official biography of his father, Sir Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
.
In 1971 he staged Glastonbury Fair, along with Arabella Churchill
Arabella Churchill (charity founder)
Arabella Spencer-Churchill was an English charity founder, festival co-founder, and fundraiser.In 1971, Churchill played a major role in the development of the Glastonbury Festival. In 1979, she set up the Children's Area of the Festival and also the Theatre Area. Until her death, she ran the...
following Michael Eavis
Michael Eavis
Athelstan Joseph Michael Eavis, CBE , is an English dairy farmer and the founder of the Glastonbury Festival, which takes place on his farm.-Personal life:...
famous Pilton Pop Festival of 1970. Glastonbury Fair was the first festival to use the pyramid stage, inspired by the cult figure John Michell
John Michell (writer)
John Frederick Carden Michell was an English writer whose key sources of inspiration were Plato and Charles Fort...
. The position of the stage was doused by Andrew according with his belief in ley-lines, and the 'Glastonbury' part of the festival's name was introduced.
He was inspired to put on a free festival after his experience at the commercial Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
Festival in 1970. His original motivation for staging a free festival was outlined in a leaflet published at the time :
Kerr managed the festival site up to the mid eighties, helping establish it as arguably the UK's foremost music festival.
Kerr has led a varied and interesting life; According to Nick Baker:
Following the Glastonbury Festivals in 1992 he put on the Whole Earth Show (an event which was in effect Andrew's most famous act of public masturbation) in Dorset, promoting organic agriculture and sustainable technologies. BBC Radio 4 carried the first wind powered broadcast from the show, while Tibetan priests blessed the site and those present.
He has been a consistent advocate of the benefits of aerobic
Aerobic organism
An aerobic organism or aerobe is an organism that can survive and grow in an oxygenated environment.Faculitative anaerobes grow and survive in an oxygenated environment and so do aerotolerant anaerobes.-Glucose:...
composting, and has spoken on TV and radio about composting and the potential of compost funerals.
2011 is the 40th Anniversary of the Glastonbury Fair, at which there will be a stage to celebrate it.
His Autobiography is due to be published on the 12th of May 2011, by Frontier Publishing.
Kerr lives in Pilton
Pilton
Pilton may refer to:* East Pilton* Pilton, Devon* Pilton, Edinburgh* Pilton, Northamptonshire* Pilton, Queensland* Pilton, Rutland* Pilton, Somerset* West Pilton...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.