Glastonbury's Emily Eavis pays tribute to Annie Nightingale

The co-organiser of Glastonbury Festival showed her gratitude towards Annie, who passed away at her home in London on January 11 after a short illness.

Ms Eavis said: "Goodbye dear Annie, a female trailblazer and true enthusiast.

"Annie gave me so much support when I was in my twenties, I always felt grateful to have such a strong woman encouraging me along the way and I’m sure she has done the same for many others like me.

"She was an inspiration to so many women in music, broadcasting and beyond and just a lovely human being."

Glastonbury co-founder Emily Eavis (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

Annie broke new ground when she became BBC Radio 1’s first female presenter in a tenure that began in 1970. Before this, she first broadcast on the BBC in 1963 as a panellist on Juke Box Jury.

She remained Radio 1's only female DJ until 1982, when she was joined by Janice Long. She is credited with opening the doors for other high-profile women broadcasters such as Sara Cox and Zoe Ball.

Ms Nightingale’s family, in a statement reported by the BBC, remembered her as "a pioneer, trailblazer and an inspiration to many."

They said: "Her impulse to share that enthusiasm with audiences remained undimmed after six decades of broadcasting on BBC TV and radio globally.”

The head of BBC Radio 1, Aled Haydn Jones, said that the station had been left "devastated" by Annie's death.

He said: “Annie was a world class DJ, broadcaster and journalist, and throughout her entire career was a champion of new music and new artists.

“She was the first female DJ on Radio 1 and over her 50 years on the station was a pioneer for women in the industry and in dance music.

“We have lost a broadcasting legend and, thanks to Annie, things will never be the same.”