Reading festival review

Reading festival

What to expect:
This is a festival for those who like it a bit edgier, the festival crowd are less demanding, they are there for a good time and drinking and this reflects on the issues we have to deal with at Reading. Our primary responsibilities are looking out for issues in music venues/stages and staffing emergency exits. We do not steward the camping areas of Reading or manage arena entrance.

Review:
Reading goes from strength to strength. It holds the award for longest running and best Rock Festival in the UK. It has its sister festival Leeds, making the August Bank Holiday Weekend the most fun an Oxfam steward can have in a weekend. There is a good crowd of Reading stewards who come back year after year and can always be found around the communal campfire near the Oxbox.

This year we had great fun looking after the crowds especially during the busiest sets such as Metallica and Pendulum in Radio 1 tent. We had the other main tents in the newly expanded arena to look after also.

Our camping area was away from main campsites and is welcome haven from the crowds/public areas. Everyone looked after each other and much fun was had when people were off shift.

We always have a Sunday night party around the campsite and this year was no exception.

No major incidents to report from Reading 2008, apart perhaps when Ade managed to knock coffee all over Oxbox whilst climbing on the roof of the Oxbox to put up radio aerials!

It’s my favourite festival to Steward, even after 6 years!

Ade and Leigh