Glastonbury: Festival Medical Services moves into new Somerton HQ

The opening ceremony was performed by the former Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Annie Maw, in her first official duty since becoming a patron of the charity.

Festival Medical Services (FMS) was founded in 1979 and its doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and support staff volunteer at major music festivals and other high-profile outdoor events.

They offer a full on-site emergency medical service, plus other healthcare services such as dentistry, podiatry, physiotherapy and mental healthcare.

The charity had rented premises in Evercreech to store its vehicles and equipment for the last eight years, but has now outgrown that unit. 

It purchased the Somerton site in September and started renovation work to make it fit for purpose. 

Annie Maw and Michael Eavis joined FMS staff members and Somerset councillor Tessa Munt at the HQ opening. (Image: Festival Medical Services)

FMS chief operating officer David Parry said: “The work included removal of one upper floor, construction of a training room and a new records office and store, installation of kitchen facilities and much more.

“Having created space where the old staircase had been, we were able to install a goods lift which enables our warehouse team to move cages and stock up and down with ease.

“Electrical upgrades were installed with LED lighting and new sockets put across the whole 7,000 square feet, which has improved the carbon footprint of the building.

“Now we have a garage on the ground floor, with room to keep our vehicles under cover, an upstairs storage area, a large room for training courses and meetings and a small mezzanine. It’s perfect for our needs.”

The charity also raises money for medical projects in the UK and abroad. It has raised more than a million pounds in total and donates over £100,000 each year.

In 2020 it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK – in recognition of this.

FMS is currently funding, preparing and sending trauma boxes of lifesaving medical kit to Ukraine in partnership with World Extreme Medicine.

Each box costs around £300 to £500. It has also sent first aid kits and hospital equipment on regular conveys since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Annie Maw becomes new patron of Festival Medical Services

Mrs Maw, who was Lord Lieutenant of Somerset from 2012 to October last year, has a special connection to FMS. 

She came to Glastonbury Festival last year to formally present the Queen’s Award for voluntary service, which had been delayed due to Covid.

There, she had a surprise reunion with the paramedic who saved her life when she fell from her horse 21 years ago.

Since then, Mrs Maw has been a wheelchair-user. In her speech, she said how grateful she had been for the care at the scene of the accident, which saved her life.

The first paramedic to reach her that day was Mike Gray, who is now an FMS volunteer. He stepped forward to introduce himself at the festival.

The pair had not met since the day of the accident and found the reunion emotional, with Mrs Maw saying the event was “the best thing I did” as Lord Lieutenant.

They met again at the opening of the Somerton Headquarters.

Dr Chris Howes, FMS chief executive, then invited Mrs Maw to join Call the Midwife writer and actor couple Heidi Thomas and Stephen McGann as patrons.

He said: “The contribution of our patrons in raising the profile of FMS, acknowledging publicly the tremendous contribution of all our volunteers and encouraging people to donate money so we can contribute more to the charities we support is invaluable and we are thrilled to welcome Annie, who has already been so supportive of us in our home county of Somerset.

“The organisation we have grown into is scarcely recognisable as that which received its first patient in a kitchen at Worthy Farm in 1979. 

“Our volunteers now come from all over the country and provide a hugely comprehensive range of highquality medical services.

“They show relentless commitment and dedication and devote their skills, energy and experience to ensure the service we provide is second to none. If these top professionals were not willing to volunteer their time and expertise, then the service we provide would be unaffordable.

“FMS aspires to the highest possible standards of clinical care and professionalism. Added to that we are a family, and we look after each other – especially when the elements may be challenging, and we are coping with rainand mud, or extreme heat, as well.”