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Cameron's constituency chairman found dead at Glastonbury | Cameron's constituency chairman found dead at Glastonbury |
(40 minutes later) | |
A senior member of David Cameron's Tory constituency association has been found dead in a Glastonbury Festival toilet. | |
The body of Christopher Shale, chairman of West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, was found at about 0900 BST at the music event in Somerset. | The body of Christopher Shale, chairman of West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, was found at about 0900 BST at the music event in Somerset. |
Police are investigating the cause of death, which the prime minister said had left him and his wife "devastated". | |
He said he had lost "a close and valued friend - a big rock in my life has suddenly been rolled away". | |
Mr Cameron, MP for Witney in Oxfordshire for 10 years, said Mr Shale had been "a huge support over the last decade". | |
"Christopher was one of the most truly generous people I've ever met - he was always giving to others, his time, his help, his enthusiasm and above all his love of life. | |
"It was in that spirit that he made a massive contribution to the Conservative Party, both locally and nationally. | |
The hospitality area where the body was found on Sunday lies between the rear of the Pyramid Stage and the Other Stage. | |
The area is off-limits to most festival-goers with gates manned by security staff who enforce a strict no-pass no-entry rule. | |
The backstage bar, which opens until the early hours, is usually teeming after the main stages close. U2 stayed for a few drinks after their headline set on Friday. | |
The bar area, which is littered with picnic tables, sculptures and even a small stage was cordoned off by police after the body was discovered at around 9am. | |
It is believed that the mobile toilet in which Mr Shale was found, was in the field opposite the bar. People are now moving freely through the area again. | |
"Our love and prayers are with Nikki and the family. They've lost an amazing dad, west Oxfordshire has lost a big and wonderful man and like so many others, Sam and I have lost a close and valued friend." | |
Inspector Chris Morgan, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "A male was found down by the press office in the toilet area. | Inspector Chris Morgan, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: "A male was found down by the press office in the toilet area. |
"At the moment we are working to establish the cause of the gentleman's death." | "At the moment we are working to establish the cause of the gentleman's death." |
Festival founder Michael Eavis spoke of his sadness over the death during a press conference later. | Festival founder Michael Eavis spoke of his sadness over the death during a press conference later. |
"It's very very sad - I can't say too much about it," he said. | "It's very very sad - I can't say too much about it," he said. |
Police cordoned off the hospitality area, putting up tape around the backstage shower and toilet area, and a camping area where production teams and some performers stay was also blocked off. | |
Mr Shale features in an article in the Mail on Sunday, which portrayed him as being critical of his Conservative association. | Mr Shale features in an article in the Mail on Sunday, which portrayed him as being critical of his Conservative association. |
In what the newspaper calls a strategy document looking at how to increase association membership - which Mr Cameron is said to be aware of - Mr Shale says that at present there was "no reason to join - lots of reasons not to". | In what the newspaper calls a strategy document looking at how to increase association membership - which Mr Cameron is said to be aware of - Mr Shale says that at present there was "no reason to join - lots of reasons not to". |
In the document, he presented a scathing assessment of the social skills and fundraising efforts of his association. | In the document, he presented a scathing assessment of the social skills and fundraising efforts of his association. |
More than 137,000 people are thought to be attending the festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, which ends on Sunday. | More than 137,000 people are thought to be attending the festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, which ends on Sunday. |