Great Western Express 1972

Up to 40,000 pop pilgrims descended on Bardney (Tupholme) over the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend of 26th – 29th May 1972 to pay homage to their pop idols. As the pop event momentum gained, so did the freezing wind and rain, which lashed the site relentlessly. By Saturday the site was a quagmire, knee deep in mud.

The festival was organised by the Great Western Festival Company and backed by Lord Harlech and Stanley Baker. Worried villagers, landowners and councillors sought a High Court Injunction, to stop the event, without success. However, the Vicar, Peter Clarke, agreed to hold a bond of £10,000 pounds to pay for any damages caused by " hooligans."

Admission charges were: Fri-Mon/£5.00p; Sat-Mon/£4.50p; Sun-Mon/£3.50p; Mon/£2.00p

Security arrangements for the festival included a 7,000-yard, 12ft-high corrugated metal fence with searchlights on top and a 300-strong security force, which consisted of members of the CID disguised as hippies.

The local Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. had stands to supply emergency food for anyone with no money.

Sleeping bags were available at 50 pence each and polythene sheeting was free. The lineup was as follows: Friday May 26th: DJ Bob Harris Alexis Korner, Doctor Ross, Buddy Miles, Rory Gallagher.

Saturday May 27th: DJ John Peel Nazareth, Locomotive GT, Roxy Music, Heads, Hands and Feet, Viv Stanshall, Wishbone Ash, Helen Reddy (replaced by Rory Gallagher), The Strawbs, Stone the Crows, The Faces.

Sunday May 28th: DJ John Peel Natural Acoustic Band, Focus, Brewers Droop, Spencer Davis, Incredible String Band, Lindisfarne, Average White Band, Persuasions, Slade, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Beach Boys.

Monday May 29th: DJ John Peel Jackson Heights, Atomic Rooster, Vinegar Joe, Sutherland Brothers, Genesis, Status Quo, Legs Larry Smith with Mimms and Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, Don McLean; Humble Pie, Sha Na Na, Joe Cocker.

The line-up for the Giants of Tomorrow marquee was:

Saturday 2.0 - 8.0: Budgie, Unborn Time, Sunrise, Walrus, Skin Alley, Tea and Sympathy, Mark Ashton, Capability Brown.

Sunday 2.0-8.0: Ditch, Byzantium, Akido, Jonesy, Sleaze Band, Smith Perkins and Smith, Patto, Good Habits.

Monday 2.0 - 8.0: Demick and Armstrong, Gnidrolog,' Spreadeagle, Morgan, Magic Carpet, Mahatma Kane Jeeves, Curtiss Maldoon, Jade Warrior.

In the Folk tent: Friday/Saturday Al Matthews, Derek Brimstone, C.O.B., Silvo and Moses

Saturday/Sunday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and midnight to 3 a.m.: Hamish Imlach, Harvey Andrews, Bridget St. John, Colin Scott, J.S.D. Band.

Sunday/Monday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and midnight - 3 a.m.: Mick Softley, Anne Briggs, Jonathan Kelly, Boys of the Lough.