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Last update 8th Jan 2002. View using Netsacpe Nav at 800 X 600 res .

24-26th July 1970 Ecclesden Common. Worthing

But for the deserted stage in the foreground, the onlooker might take this for a medieval battleground. This was in fact the scene on Ecclesden Common on Sunday morning , when the pop festival fans were just beginning to stir after the concert of the night before.

    Peace and quiet returned to the village today after its biggest ever youth invasion . There was little trouble , the only complaints were about noise.

    The Rev H Neal Snelling , Rector of Clapham and Patching , addressed the 1000 fans who remained in the rain yesterday. He didn't condemn the behaviour of the young fans to their face but afterwards he told reporters of young girls running away from home to join the hippie set , leaving parents frantic with worry. He said he knew of one 17 year old girl who had not been heard of for a week  and was said to be living with the hippies in the woods.  .
    He said that what had been happening in the woods was low , immoral and disgusting . He said he had seen youngsters making love in the woods i full view of those who had walked past. He also bitterly attacked a scene on Saturday night , when the male band stripped naked ( The Pink Fairies of course ) and  others watching followed suit.

Saturday's crowd at the Patching Pop festival was the biggest . The weather was fine and the "cats" in the crowd were able to " blow their minds " whilst the sun shone benignly down.	This invalided hippie climbed onto the top of his carriage to get the atmosphere ( and the sound ) of the festival.

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