NZ Appology - Christopher Tolkien

posted 3rd December 2014 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

 Sir:
Speaking on behalf of the Lord of the Ring Tourist Industry...

Now that Sir Peter Jackson has the Hobbit “Done and Dusted” I think it’s time to mend some fences with Christopher Tolkien, JRR Tolkien’s Son
It seems in the 1980s the NZ Government Snubbed the Tolkien’s when they removed his Father’s Names from the Map of New Zealand without so much as consulting him.
It was especially if you read the demeaning reasons for the action in the first place, followed decades later by the Anduin Reach Saga and then Tolkien’s Mountain.
It’s clear Christopher has been shown pretty poor treatment by NZ Government representatives considering all the economic benefits His Fathers Works have brought us.
As the Steward of the Tolkien Estate he deserves better respect.

At this point in time a Prime Ministerial Apology would be a great gesture as Christopher is not that happy with New Zealand and that is truly a sad thing.
We don’t need to restore the Lost Tolkien Mountains of Fiordland but I’d love to see Mr Key and young  Royd Tolkien one day Climb JRR’s Mountain together, but that’s not going to happen without a bit of humility on our collective behalf.

Tolkien Family Host Hobbit Screening

The Daily Post (Wales) 19th December 2013

Clwyd Theatr Cymru rolled out the red carpet last week as the venue hosted a special fundraising  preview of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

The advance screening of the film –  which is the second instalment in The Hobbitmovie trilogy – was organised by members of J R R Tolkien’s family to raise money and awareness of the MS Support Centre in Saltney.

The facility is close to the family’s  heart as it is where Tolkien’s great grandson Mike receives treatment for motor neurone disease.

Mike, who lives in Deeside, was diagnosed with the condition, which affects the nervous system, a year ago and attends the centre for treatment.

The 38-year-old invited volunteers and staff from the facility to the preview event as a way of thanking them for their help and support over the past year.

Mandy Doyle, Mike’s sister, said: “It's been amazing as we have so many close family and friends here – it's just been great to see everybody here and everybody coming to support Mike.

“We're a close-knit family and it is nice to give Mike that extra comfort and support that he needed to come out – it  is very hard when you have been so active to lose all that and be in a wheelchair and it takes a lot of courage to come out.”

She went on: “The MS centre in Saltney has just got amazing group of people that aren't scary medical people that are in your face – they just very pro-active and very friendly.

“We can go in and have a laugh in a relaxed environment and you don't  have to worry about anything. They do all sorts of things there and its a way of saying thank you to them because when you get diagnosed with MND you just feel lost and you don't know where to turn and a lot of people find it really difficult.

“And a lot of people there are volunteers as well so its really important to support them – hopefully they will raise lots of dosh tonight.”

There was an extra surprise for Mike at the screening as director Peter Jackson and stars including Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch appeared on screen to give him some special messages.

Mike’s brother Royd Tolkien, said:  “Mike absolutely loved the messages from all the stars – we only had a week to put it together and we weren’t sure who would even do it – but when I saw it, it blew me away.

“It was so touching and the messages were so personal – it was fantastic.”

The evening raised more than £700 for the MS centre in Saltney, which is the only dedicated MS treatment centre across Cheshire, North Wales, Wirral and Merseyside.

Jane Johnston-Cree, centre manager, said: “We are very grateful to the Tolkien family and Warner Brothers for supporting us and raising vital funds and awareness of our charity.”

Tolkien Mountain's Family NZ