I live in the West Midlands, near where J. R. R. Tolkien and his wife Edith lived for a spell during the Great War. I’ve always got a kick out of going to places in the area, places like Cannock Chase up where he worked. I have often run, walked, and even ridden my very angry horse* around it, soaking up the atmosphere—charging my creative batteries.
As a fantasy writer, I owe a lot to the OGs of that wide and very varied genre —the giants upon whose shoulders we stand— and Tolkien is foremost amongst them. When I was younger, I read everything of his I could get my glommy mitts on. Yes, I am the one who pored over the Silmarillion looking for things like the names of the Nazgûl, (Khamûl FYI). Even as a teenager, I would finish school on a Friday, go to my bedroom and spend the weekend reading The Lord of the Rings— yes I was that sad.
Only I wasn’t. I was as happy as a pig in the proverbial.
Back to the future.
When I found out there was a wee Tolkien Weekend in Great Haywood to celebrate the great man’s association with the village, I dragged my beautiful assistant and myself over there.
I had a great time, chatted to locals and fellow enthusiasts, visited some of the places where he spent time and also enjoyed a pint at a local pub. I think it behoves a writer to follow in the footsteps of the greats by attempting to have a few bevvies in their favourite watering holes. I’ve had a dram or three in the Eagle and Child so it was only right and proper to sit in a sunny beer garden in Great Haywood, at a table next to a couple of elves, and have a deliciously cold pint … or two on a sunny July day, before the world turned into an inferno.
As well as all the local associations, what I found most touching was the WWI stuff.
I can only guess what a toll it takes on a human to be under relentless, murderous fire. I’ve seen death and injury, as have most, but that? It fills me with a sense of dread to consider what those folk endured and we can see the tracks of it—the long shadow it cast—in Tolkien’s work. As with many writers, he dealt with the trauma in some way by using his creative powers as an alembic in which he could distil his experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Turning the leaden horrors he saw into, (in part), the gold we treasure to this day. That’s alchemy, as close to magic as mere mortals ever come.
Anywho, below are some pics I took on the day to give a flavour. If you’re ever in this neck of the woods check it out; walk in the footsteps of a literary giant and maybe have a pint or two.
Where relevant, photographs reproduced with the permission of the original photographer Mr. Nigel Dudley who was a very nice chap.
And now some…
Bookish News
Dangerous to Know is only 99p / 99c for the next week. Books 2 to 6 are on sale for £2.99 / $3.99 this weekend. So it’s the perfect time to dive back in and complete the gorram series if you haven’t already. There’s links in the book images at the end of this post.
KT
*deaders now, although to give her her due, she did try to take me out on more than one occasion. Not a warhorse so much as a murder mare.
Thank you for shaing these pics, what a great way to spend the weekend ! Sending love from Arwen and Luthien ( dog and cat ) and myself
Kathy x