22 Facts About Michael Eavis

Sir Athelstan Joseph Michael Eavis was born on 17 October 1935 and is an English dairy farmer and the co-creator of the Glastonbury Festival, which takes place at his farm in Pilton, Somerset.

Michael Eavis's father was a dairy farmer and a Methodist local preacher, and his mother a school teacher.

Michael Eavis was educated at Wells Cathedral School, followed by the Thames Nautical Training College in Greenhithe, Kent, after which he joined the Union-Castle Line, part of the British Merchant Navy, as a trainee midshipman.

Michael Eavis's plan was to spend twenty years at sea, and return with a pension to help subsidise the income from the family farm.

Michael Eavis worked at Mendip Colliery at Nettlebridge or New Rock colliery at Stratton-on-the-Fosse on the Somerset Coalfield for a couple of years to help supplement the income from the farm.

Michael Eavis next married Jean Hayball, with whom he had a son, Patrick, and a daughter, Emily.

Jean died of cancer in 1999, and Michael Eavis has since married his third wife, Liz.

In common with his parents and second wife, Michael Eavis remains a practising Methodist, although he has stated that he is "not really bothered" about the existence of God.

Michael Eavis has credited a number of influences for his political views, including traditions of nonconformity in his family, as well as his time as a miner, during which he was a member of the National Union of Mineworkers.

In 2005, Michael Eavis was quoted in The Guardian as being a supporter of hunting.

In 2011, Michael Eavis was quoted as lamenting the decline in political activity associated with the Glastonbury Festival.

Michael Eavis was guest editor of the Western Daily Press newspaper on Glastonbury's 'fallow' weekend, 23 June 2012.

Michael Eavis invited Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to appear at the 2017 festival, introducing the Run the Jewels' set.

Michael Eavis has apportioned profits from his Glastonbury Festival to support charitable causes, including local projects such as the restoration of the Tithe Barn, Pilton.

In November 2008, during an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs, Michael Eavis stated that the Festival could never lose its licence due to the contribution it makes to the local economy.

In 2009, Michael Eavis starred in a short film to promote Somerset, commissioned by Inward Investment Agency Into Somerset.

Michael Eavis served as vice-president of Somerset Wildlife Trust until June 2018: he stepped down following an online petition criticising his support for badger culling.

Michael Eavis holds honorary degrees from the University of Bath and the University of Bristol.

Michael Eavis was appointed Knight Bachelor in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to music and charity.

In 2009 Michael Eavis was nominated by Time magazine as one of the top 100 most influential people in the world.

Michael Eavis was awarded the Freedom of the Town of Glastonbury on 3 May 2022.

In early 2024 Michael Eavis was knighted at Windsor Castle, by the Princess Royal, for services to music and charity.