Rockpoint Records attend Glastonbury to work in Recycling Crew

Manager of Rockpoint Records in New Brighton, Sue Birkett, from Wallasey, and her husband, took the group of around 15 people to this year's Glastonbury to work at the festival.

Rockpoint Records, on Victoria Road, was founded by Daniel Davies, and is a live-music venue, coffee shop and bar.

Members of New Brighton band Headfeeder Jamie Valerio, Ben Kynaston and Will Robinson, along with two members from band Ambedo Blue, and Rockpoint staff members Nathan Smith and Rachel Buttery all attended.

Rockpoint Records (Image: Chloe Nightingale)

Sue, Jamie and the group all got to go to Glastonbury for free, and then he and three others worked as tractor crew, cleaning up tents, wood, barrels of oil, and more after the festival had ended.

The 'Tractor Crew' (Image: Jamie Valerio)

Speaking to the Globe, Jamie said: "We got to watch the whole festival and then for four days after we were on the tractors cleaning up.

"It was nice to see the festival shutting down and it was quite interesting to see what a massive operation it was."

The group were part of the clean-up operation after the festival (Image: Jamie Valerio)

As Sue has worked at Glastonbury eight or nine times now, she gets the opportunity to refer people she knows to work for the recycling crew.

She said: "They're all hard workers, they're all music orientated as well.

"Glastonbury was perfect for all of them."

Sue had backstage access, working on the Pyramid Stage, where the likes of the Arctic Monkeys and Sir Elton John performed.

Speaking about her experience, she added: "I still work with the recycling crew, but I go round the hospitality areas and also go backstage.

"Once the gigs had finished we would quickly go on and clean the stage. 

"I sat on Slash's speaker just as he played and I nearly ended up on the other side of the festival.

"We saw the trucks coming in for Arctic Monkeys and at one point I turned around and the band Texas were behind me."

Jamie and Sue highlighted some of their favourite acts from the festival as Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Rick Astley and Arctic Monkeys.

The group of 15 enjoyed the festival (Image: Sue Birkett)

As staff at Glastonbury, the group stayed in Tom's Field, with two meals vouchers a day, half-price drinks, hot showers, and clean toilets. 

Sue added: "It's just being there - you can't describe it. It's giving something back as well because you are able to help and be part of Glastonbury.

"It's such a privilege for a group of Wirral people to be part of it and not just say they went to Glastonbury."

Jamie added: "Within two or three days it literally turns right back into a farm. It's incredible."

Sue also wanted to say thanks to Fiona and Jake, who direct the recycling crew at the festival, and the whole crew who work at Glastonbury as sue said they "don't get enough praise" for what they do.