The highlight for most was the early availability of his new Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, and getting to speak with him away from the main con happenings, he seemed to quite enjoy the time given to go back and get some work in of characters and locations that he wasn't able to address for the films.
I hope that others will write and relate tales of the panels, to try to do them justice in any one report would be a monumental task. Suffice it to say that he was a very welcome addition to the convention, and folks seem to be as in awe of him personally as of his draftsmanship and painting.