The Tolkien society in England organises two events annually which must be the ultimate Tolkien fan gatherings, based as they are around the places where Tolkien grew up and his beloved Oxford. [More]
Month: June 2001
Tish, a regular at Barlimans, gave us this news last night. It seems a restaurant in the D.C. area was giving away free LOTR pins! All I can say is, “Will LOTR *ever* come to Podunkville?” Here’s her report:
As I mentioned in chat last night, yesterday, June 9, a friend of mine went to the opening of a Chipotle burrito take out restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C. A pile of LOTR pins sat on one of the tables, free to any takers. My friend took one and gave it to me. I’ve seen these types of pins before. They are usually, as this one is, the movie poster laminated on to a flat, rectangular backing, about 2 inches by 3 inches. However, I’ve never seen these except when handed out at a theater during the opening of an anticipated blockbuster.
A local radio station was promoting this restaurant opening last week, with offers of free food. I heard nothing though about Lord of the Rings giveaways. On Monday, I will call the restaurant and find out if they have more of the pins, or, if not, from where they came.
Best,
Tish
When we hear more, we’ll pass it along
Better than ever!
Fun at Mill … Again!
This year’s “Fun At Mill…Again!” (19th-20th May) saw over 2,200 people visit Sarehole Mill, Birmingham and the Craft Fair on the green behind it, a rise of over 1/3 on last year’s “Fun At Mill”. “Fun At Mill…Again!” was made up of displays from the Tolkien Country Park Partners about their activities, plus a host of other activities including story-telling, guided walks through the area including the history and wildlife of Moseley Bog and the River Cole, exhibitions, crafts, and a dramatisation of Tolkien’s “Farmer Giles of Ham”. The weekend was fun day out for locals, Tolkien fans and interested members of the media, bringing them to the mill, an often overlooked historical site, Moseley Bog and to publicise the concept of the country park which will protect these locations.
The Tolkien Society were successful in applying for a grant of £4,900 from the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme to stage this second Tolkien Weekend event at Sarehole Mill. This meant that funds were available to keep the museum at the mill open for extra hours, with a miller demonstrating his craft. The Lottery fund money was also used to meet the production costs of a dramatic presentation of Tolkien’s story Farmer Giles of Ham in the mill courtyard and to cover the costs of craft demonstrators.
Last year’s Fun at Mill weekend (13-14th May 2000) saw 1,600 people visiting Sarehole Mill, about 1,000 more than the usual number attracted on open days; and that is not including those who only looked at the exhibitions and craft displays on the green behind the mill. So Fun At Mill…Again! saw a bumper number of people coming to see Sarehole Mill, the “original” of the Mill at Bywater in The Lord of the Rings.
A Tolkien Country Park?
The Fun at Mill weekends have been organised to provide a free good day out, and to publicise the concept of a new park centred around Sarehole Mill. Contrary to several articles in the press in 1998, this is not a Tolkien Theme Park, but a country park based around Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog. Since 1998 a group of charitable organisations, the Moseley LNR Conservation Group, the River Cole and Chinn Book Conservation Group, The Tolkien Society and The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country, otherwise known as the Tolkien Country Park Partners, have been working towards the creation of this park in Birmingham. It was decided that this park should be known as The Tolkien Country Park because of the importance of the area to world-famous author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The plan is to create a linear park along the course of the River Cole past Sarehole Mill, which is believed to be the last functioning water mill in Birmingham. The suggestions came initially from local residents, some of whom were aware of Tolkien’s links with the area. The Tolkien Country Park Partners are:
The Tolkien Society
30 Span Meadow, Shawbirch, Telford, TF5 0NE.
The Moseley Bog LNR Conservation Group
c/o Mrs Joy Fifer MBE, Wake Green Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 9UZ.
The River Cole & Chinn Brook Conservation Group:
The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country.
c/o Peter Bennett, 68 Smirrcus Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 0LB.
Any queries regarding this Press Release should be addressed to:
Ian Collier, Publicity Officer, 18 Howard Street, Oxford, OX4 3BE e-mail publicity@tolkiensociety.org
2nd:
Oxonmoot
21st-23rd September 2001, St Antony’s College, Oxford
Oxonmoot is The Tolkien Society’s annual convention-like event arranged for the weekend closest to the 22nd of September (the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins as given in The Lord of the Rings). This year we return to St Antony’s College on the northern edge of central Oxford. The average attendance is around 150 people and while mostly TS members the general public are welcome to attend and can sign up for the whole weekend or obtain day tickets on the Saturday.
Registration is £22 for members and £27 for non-members up to 31 July,
and £26 & £32 respectively thereafter.
What is an Oxonmoot?
Oxonmoot is a weekend event for the Tolkien Society, which grew out of early more informal arrangements to meet socially in Oxford prior to a wreath laying at Tolkien’s grave. The weekend is made up of formal and informal talks, seminars, workshops†, an art show, a dealers’ room, a party and a wreath laying and service of remembrance at Tolkien’s grave.
Want to Present a Paper?
†Those who wish to offer a paper, host a seminar or run a workshop are invited to contact the Day Time Events Co-Ordinator (e-mail dte.osc@tolkiensociety.org). Please note that the Tolkien Society and Oxonmoot are organised solely by people volunteering to work the spare time they have from their day jobs.
What Happens at an Oxonmoot?
The weekend itself begins with attendees arriving at the college during the Friday afternoon, the sub-committee/Booking Officer will (in co-operation with the college official responsible) have prepared a list of rooms for the porters, so that those attendees requiring a quiet room, or one they can hold a party in will be accommodated appropriately. After dropping off their bags they can wander the town investigating bookshops, tourist attractions and maybe meeting old friends. Oxonmoot officially starts with ‘Registration’, newcomers and old hands turn up around 6pm to obtain Registration Packs which will contain Oxonmoot (OI) Information (the sheet detailing the weekend programme and local information), their name badge and any special vouchers or tickets that they may be eligible for (first-timers get a drinks voucher for the bar — to help break the ice, the choice of beverage is up to them). Recent years have seen the introduction of an organised meal at a nearby restaurant or pub, being pre-booked with attendance this allows new attendees a chance to meet and eat without having to wander around Oxford. Others can find somewhere to eat either from memory, solid acquaintance or the OI in the company of friends; Oxonmoot has become a byword for friendship and fellowship to many attendees, and is often used as a form of farewell between members from different countries or parts of Britain “Oxonmoot”, in other words ‘see you next at…’, according to their ability to get to other meetings. Other than the meal the only other organisation for the evening is arrangements for the college bar where Oxonmooters gather to catch up on old times over drinks, gossip, make new friends and meet old ones. After the bar closes some members may host room-parties, or a Telerin Circle may be arranged for someone’s room, the latter is an informal gathering to read, or hear others reading aloud, from Tolkien’s works, and occasionally there may be some singing. Behind the scenes in the afternoon and evening the Art Show and Dealers’ rooms will have been set up by sub-committee members and volunteers.
On Saturday there is breakfast in the college dining hall. The day starts around 9am with the opening of the art show, dealers room (these will be open most of the day) and the first of the talks, there may also be a quiz. A Hospitality Room is provided with tea, coffee and biscuits so that those who wish to, can just sit and chat with old friends. Saturday lunch is a buffet reception often with an address from a special guest where attendees can meet them amongst the throng. All other activities are suspended, the Dealers’ and Art Show rooms are closed so that everyone can attend. After lunch the programme resumes until around 6pm. Then members in the company of friends old and new seek somewhere to eat, either in college or town, prior to the evening party. The Party has in recent years been held in college bars or Dining Halls according to the space required and ease of access to the bar, entertainment is provided by musically or dramatically inclined members, professional musicians performing works inspired by Tolkien or dramatic readings and there may also be a mini-masquerade for those who like to make and wear costumes based on characters, creatures or peoples from Tolkien’s stories; many of these are works of art in themselves and some appear in the Art Show.
Sunday starts with another college breakfast and packing, around 10.30 the attendees are bussed to Wolvercote Cemetery where at 11:00, is the ceremony of Enyali?I> (Remembrance), where Oxonmooters gather at the grave of Professor Tolkien to remember the man whose work has inspired all of us. After a short reading and a minute’s silences wreaths are laid. Members can then arrange to meet for lunch at a pub (such as the Eagle & Child otherwise known as the “Bird & Baby”, where Tolkien and CS Lewis met regularly) or attend a Dead Orcs’ lunch in the college.
Past Oxonmoots have seen Shakespearean actor, and the voice for the audio books of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings, Rob Inglis run a workshop for those members interested in performing or reading Tolkien’s works in public settings (at schools or the Oxonmoot Party). There have also been displays of artwork by renowned Tolkien illustrator Ted Nasmith and concerts by the Danish Tolkien Ensemble of their settings for songs from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, in addition to the usual events.
The Tolkien Society has a web-site, which provides members and non-members with general information about the society and the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
For membership and general enquiries please write to:
The Secretary, 210 Prestbury Road, CHELTENHAM, United Kingdom. GL52 3ER.
Any queries regarding this Press Release should be addressed to:
Ian Collier, Publicity Officer, 18 Howard Street, Oxford, OX4 3BE e-mail publicity@tolkiensociety.org
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There’s no gatecrasher like a musician. The thought of free food and drinks acts on us like the Ring does on Gollum. Here’s an funny story from somebody who was at Cannes: [Warning: some people are going to read this and go ‘tsk tsk tsk…’ Heck, _I_ went ‘tsk tsk tsk.’ But it’s too good a story to leave out.[More]
There’s no gatecrasher like a musician. The thought of free food and drinks acts on us like the Ring does to Gollum. Here’s an amazing story from somebody who was at Cannes: [Warning: some people are going to read this and go ‘tsk tsk tsk…’ Heck, _I_ went ‘tsk tsk tsk.’ But it’s too good a story to leave out.
“Although following the ups and downs of the upcoming trilogy at TheOneRing.net for almost 2 years know, I’ve never had the urge to write to you. Even after reading everything on the Cannes footage, I was not tempted. Well actually I was tempted, being at the Cannes Party myself! but I felt like telling the same story again and again. But after looking at the footage and the pictures posted on the official site (06/06/01), there is actually something I like to share with you. On the video and on the third picture from the right of the “party preperations”, a little table is shown inside the hobbit-hole. There are some things on the table like a feather, a leather bag, a Hobbit pipe (a wooden one) and a calendar that is hanging on the wall ! The calendar is not only planning Bilbo’s Birthday Party and Gandalf coming, but it is also looking at me every night before I lay my ear on my pillow! Actually I felt a bit ashamed at first, stealing something from a party you weren’t even invited to. But no way I’m giving it back now!!
I play in a dutch jazzband and this was the 10th time we attended the filmfestival of Cannes. Maybe it has something to do with being a musician or just the fact that a considerable amount of people have read the books, but most of the bandmembers can be called Tolkien “fans”. Going to the LOTR-party anyway was not an option. I knew the name of the castle, saw a picture, but that was that. On Sunday night (the night of the party) we were enjoying a good meal, when suddenly our soprano-sax player saw somebody with an invitation for the party. We just couldn’t resist to ask were it was and take the change of going there, experienced party-crashers as we are. We only knew the place of the village north of Cannes. It was, however, not at all easy to find the castle. All signs leading to the place were removed. There even was a road block used to mislead party-crashers. But after an hour of driving on very small mountain roads in the middle of ****ing nowhere, we saw a shimmering blue light high up in the sky. Figuring out that was the place to be, and choosing the wrong way for three times (picture 9 people in a 9-persons van, going uphill in gear 1 on a dusty road. Every time they conquered the hill they saw the blue light on the hill next door; damn wrong mountain…again!!), we saw a car coming up. Turned out to be two French guys who attended the party but were lost after leaving it. Happily we could exchange information about showing them the way down and showing us the way up. And after 1 hour driving, there it was: The blue light was coming from a beautiful castle, transformed into a Middle-earth surrounding. You could get to about 300 meters from the castle until stopped by big guys with hairy arms. As we always do, we just drove our van inside, pretending we were “the band”, but the guards said something like: “No ****ing way…” Disappointed, but not defeated yet, we drove 200 meters back and stopped at a big fence surrounding the castle. We couldn’t see if the place was guarded, but if you don’t try… So we climbed the fence, wearing the most ugly yellow band-shirts you have ever seen, crawled our way up bushes, hid in shadows and moved silently across the lands and between deserted (we hoped) houses. It was our own little quest. Whenever someone made the slightest noise we froze and with some “Tour of Duty” moves we finally reached a wall with on top of it the way leading to the entrance. Coming this close, there was no time for hesitation so in a few seconds 9 yellow fellows walked towards the entrance. People were staring at us, but the only thing we were interested in was getting inside. Which of course was chanceless, without an invitation, which was about as big as a CD. Plan B was about to fail, when I saw another entrance, used for catering people. I guessed that they wouldn’t mind us getting inside, so plan C was born ! I was just about to ask this waiter to let us in, when I discovered I could just walk inside. As we walked past Galadriel’s Boat, lying in a beautiful lake full of strange lightning and smoke, the music became louder and louder, and before we knew it, our band had entered the building. First thing we did while inside, was running to the nearest bar and order nine gin-tonics. Of course as low profile as we could be (patting each other’s back, which definitely contained marks of a big bush-struggle), all of us saw his wet dream come true. Especially when we saw pictures inside the castle of the whole cast and things like Gandalf’s staff, Narsil and Sting, the Prancing Pony, the Troll and of course the Hobbit house. Inside the house my fingeres started to itch, seeing all these have-to-haves and before I knew it (or anybody else hopefully), some of these gadgets were well hidden in my pants. Leaving the party we obtained a bag containing a special edition of the books, a pipe, tabacco, a poster and a little Sting, of course just like all the other guests! I must say the guards were looking a bit strange when we left the castle through the main gate.
Anyway, maybe an old story, but I just could not keep it to myself. What a relief! Hopefully my calendar is in the movies, wouldn’t you say.
Greetings from The Netherlands, Porto Sandybanks of Frogmorton (my Hobbit name according to Chris Wetherell) “