FESTIVAL founder and Somerset legend Michael Eavis clapped and waved his way through a wonderful secret set at The Park stage on Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of people chanted his name as the 87-year-old, who is recovering from an operation on his leg, was wheeled onto the stage in an office chair to perform a collection of classics at Worthy Farm.

Michael greeted the crowd by saying: “Hello there – are you ready for this? It’s a warm up for the show, it’s not the real thing.”

His charming sunshine set featured covers of Frank Sinatra's ‘Love’s Been Good To Me’ and ‘My Way’ and Elvis Presley's ‘Suspicious Minds’.

Michael laughed after hearing shouts of “we love you Michael, we do” and “the true king of England” throughout his short set at The Park, which was announced around 45 minutes before he went on stage at 4pm. 

Somerset County Gazette: Emily Eavis watches Michael and his band on the Park stage.Emily Eavis watches Michael and his band on the Park stage. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Speaking to the PA news agency after her father’s performance, festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said: “It was brilliant, wasn’t it? That was such a lovely moment.

“It’s really nice to see him here just to kick off the festival.”

Michael was transported back to a Land Rover after leaving the stage in a wheelchair, but Emily said that her father is “on great form”.

Asked about the office chair, she said: “We just cobbled it together, it was all a bit last minute – I was like ‘anyone got a chair?’

“I love seeing him on stage. Singing has always been something that he’s loved doing.

“He recorded an album when he was, I think, 16 or 17 years old, so he’s always loved singing.”

Somerset County Gazette: The Park was busy for the secret set.The Park was busy for the secret set. (Image: Yui Mok, PA Wire)

After Michael left the stage, his band – which included a keyboard player, bassist, guitarist, sax players and two backing singers – kept the crowd entertained for another 15 minutes, starting with Tina Turner's ‘Proud Mary’. 

They brought the joyful set to a close by “raising a glass” to the late Amy Winehouse with a beautiful rendition of ‘You Know I'm No Good’.

Emily said festival had been going “beautifully well” after opening its doors on Wednesday morning.

“What perfect weather – so far, so great, so good”, she added.