How the Isle of Wight Festival changed but stayed the same

Indeed, in terms of dress, many of the Afton festivalgoers would probably pass unnoticed at Seaclose.

Scroll through the photos above

At Afton on that August bank holiday weekend the promoters, Totland brothers Ronnie and Ray Foulk, were apprehensive.

Mr Mark Woodnutt, Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, said the law had been brought into contempt at the festival. "I am not a prude and I do not mind nude bathing at the right place at the right time, but I do not like fornicating on the beach." The (Image: Alan Stroud)

The Isle of Wight Council, which included two Admirals, one Major, two Rear-Admirals, two Brigadiers, one Commander and one Sir, tried their best to stop the festival by making life as difficult as they could for Ronnie and Ray - including forcing a disastrous site on them.

As the tatterdemalion army of youngsters streams away from the Isle of Wight, let's hope they enjoyed themselves. But it will do no harm if they have learned a basic lesson : That most things in this world have to be paid for, even pop festivals." - (Image: Alan Stroud)

It was overlooked by Afton Down where, as the council realised only too well, the whole festival could be viewed without a ticket.

And it was.

Thousands watched for free and to the delight of the Brigadiers the festival went bust.

Festivalgoers sat outside WHSmith on Ryde Esplanade. (Image: Alan Stroud)

• All these photographs appeared in the book ‘The View From The Crowd’ by Alan and Tom Stroud. It was a limited edition run and is no longer available.