Glastonbury festival at 40

The first Glastonbury festival took place in 1970. Famously, you got a pint of milk with your ticket. This kind of incentive might be why only nine people and a horse turned up
Photograph: Brian Walker/glastonbury40.com

It's been said before, but Glastonbury has always had something other festivals lack. Namely, nudity and the very first man bag (1970)
Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

June 1971, and the Eavis family get the hang of this entertainment lark with the building of the Pyramid stage
Photograph: Ian Tyas/Getty Images

Some 10,000 people who attended the festival in 1971. Now, we've all been guilty of turning up without the basics (toilet roll, perhaps, or a supply of cereal bars) but who forgets to bring a tent?
Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

The church had a high profile during the early days of Glastonbury, represented in this picture by three priests and (possibly) a very grumpy and cold-looking God
Photograph: Daily Mail / Rex Features/Rex Features

By 1982, the festival had joined forces with CND, the Pyramid stage received a makeover and, judging by the numerous patterned jumpers in the crowd, many people had discovered the importance of warm clothing for an English festival
Photograph: David Corio/Redferns

And those without warm clothing resorted to pyrotechnics for heat (1983)
Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features

This picture, taken at the 1983 festival, represents the exact moment someone started the trend for flags at festivals
Photograph: Pete Cronin/Redferns

Aw, even hard-as-nails punks need a little afternoon nap (1983)
Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/REx Features

And from this day forth in 1984, drugs were unheard of at Glastonbury
Photograph: Nils Jorgensen/Rex features

Billy Bragg's name has been on the Glastonbury line-up every year since 1725
Photograph: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features/Rex Features

A BNP poster aiming to stir up controversy against Glastonbury festival with a picture that depicts drunken debauchery. Oddly, it failed to put the nation's teenagers off attending the event Photograph: guardian.co.uk

1986, and the world's youngest hipster makes his debut at Glasto. He was later seen telling one of the organisers that the festival had 'totally sold out'
Photograph: Ben Gibson/Guardian

We're no experts, but it's going to take a lot more than those small squares of cloth to patch up the ozone layer (1992)
Photograph: Mick Hutson/Redferns

Damon Albarn enjoying a delicious (and free) spot of Glastonbury cuisine in 1995
Photograph: Brian Rasic/Rex Features

Here's a rare sight at Glasto: revellers are actually sheltering from the sun (1995)
Photograph: Mick Hutson/Redferns

1997, the year everyone remembers for its perfect ice cream weather
Photograph: Rex Features/SWS

Hmm, these passes look suspiciously fresh and new to us (1999)
Photograph: PA

By 2002, the food at Glastonbury had impoved so much it looked as if it had fallen off the back of an Ocado lorry
Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

John Peel displays his droll sense of humour with this protest sign (2003)
Photograph: Rowan Griffiths/Rex Features

Fatboy Slim and some can can dancers enjoy the revelry in the Lost Vagueness field in 2004
Photograph: Barry Lewis/Corbis

By 2005, the quality of tents had improved dramatically ...
Photograph: Jon Kent/Rex Features

... and yet, that was of no help whatsoever when the heavens opened (2005)
Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Approximately three and a half minutes after this photo was taken, this fruity couple realised just what a terrible, terrible decision this was (2005)
Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

When people say, 'Glastonbury is a really unique festival,' what they mean is that they've got bendy spoons and stuff hanging all over the place
Photograph: Jon Super/Redferns/Getty Images

As the festival expanded over the years, so did the array of precious good you could buy. By 2005, they even had these lovely coloured vases on sale, though heaven knows why you'd want something so delicate at a music festival!
Photograph: Andy Aitchison/Corbis

Never underestimate the British public's ability to power on through no matter how bad the weather conditions (2007)
Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

A dangerous menace to the public is reprimanded by police at Glastonbury 2007. If anyone knows the identity and whereabouts of this young gentleman, the police would like you to get in touch
Photograph: Sonia Melot/Guardian

An aerial view of the festival in 2007 shows just how far they've come from the days when free milk and a horse was all that was on offer
Photograph: Mick Hutson/Geety Images

A good picture to gaze at if you missed out on getting a ticket this year
Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

A good photo to gaze at if you did get a ticket – the witching hour at Glastonbury
Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Michael Eavis T-shirt, tutu, heart-shaped sunglasses and a beer. Pretty tame for a Glastonbury outfit, really (2008)
Photograph: Martin Godwin/Guardian

Festivalgoers utilise the 'She-Pee' female urinal in 2007
Photograph: David Levene/Guardian

Flags, flags, as far as the eye can see, flags (2008)
Photograph: Linda Nylind/Guardian

Bob Geldof and Michael Eavis asked the crowd to 'make poverty history' in 2005 by holding hands. It's things like this which make people hate Glastonbury, isn't it?
Photograph: James McCauley /Rex Features

Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson performs some energetic moves in 2007. Looks like drummer Nick is hoping Ricky won't land on his head
Photograph: Rune Hellestad/Corbis

A bride and bridesmaids on her happy day in 2009. Where are those priests when you need them?
Photograph: AFP/AFP

The crowd enjoys a rare moment of sunshine at Glastonbury! All except the two men on the right in the blue, that is (2009)
Photograph: James McCauley /Rex Features

Jay-Z's 'controversial' headline slot in 2008 went down magnificently with the crowd, despite him opening with an Oasis song
Photograph: Rune Hellestad/Corbis

Damon Albarn, back with Blur in 2009 for one of the most memorable headline slots in history. He just couldn't resist that free dinner, you see
Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features