Tolkien Weekend 2002

More Fun at Mill

Following the success of the Tolkien weekends at Sarehole Mill in 2000 and 2001, another Sarehole event took place on May 18-19, 2002.

Here is a report on the event.

For the third year running, the Tolkien Society in conjunction with Birmingham City Council and local groups staged the increasingly popular weekend at Sarehole Mill, Birmingham. Despite initially poor weather, the event was well attended on Saturday. On Sunday, the better weather allowed record attendance. In all, the count of attendees reached over 5,000.

This year's Tolkien Weekend at Sarehole Mill was the biggest yet. The museum at Sarehole Mill was open for extra hours, and a miller was demonstrating his craft.

The event was opened by the local member of parliament, Mr Steve McCabe.

Within the mill itself in addition to the miller and the city's museum displays were stands from The Tolkien Society and Hall Green Library about Tolkien's life and works.
In the mill courtyard and on the green, Shire Productions performed dramatised scenes from The Hobbit on Sunday and Lord of the Rings on Sunday.
There were story walks and guided tours of Moseley Bog.

On the green around the mill was:

Birmingham City History Bus.
Environmental displays and information from the local groups that made up the Tolkien Park Partnership.
The Bowmen of Swanshurst providing archery practice for kids young and old.
A blacksmith, showing the ancient art of working hot metal.
Woodcrafters were demonstrating their skills.
Birmingham Eco Park plant stall.
Games Workshop demonstration games.
Waterstones sales stand of Middle-earth books.
Pony rides.
Local radio group Wythall Amateur Radio Society (GB2ME) provided special event station talking to people around the world.
Morris dancing from Green Man Morris Dancers (Saturday) and the Glorishers of Brummagen (Sunday).
Displays and demonstrations from the RSPB, British Woodcarvers Assoc., Mehindi Henna Art, WWF Wildlife Trust, Bee-keepers Association, Guild of Spinners and Weavers and the Guild of Model Wheelwrights.

Here is a report on the event.