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Announcement: key Tolkien figure Mike Wilkes has passed away

It is with great dismay that we must sadly inform you of the death on Friday of one of our Tolkien Society members. Mick Wilkes has died after a long and painful illness, at St. Mary’s Hospice, with his wife Viv and sons John and David beside him.

Mick Wilkes in life was a tall figure and I have memories of his smiling face at various events around the city connected with the Tolkien Society, he was a former Lord-Mayor of Birmingham, former city councillor, a staunch supporter of the Tolkien Society, Tolkien & Middle-earth Weekends and the drama group Shire Productions. He was also the driving force behind the city’s “Birmingham Tolkien Strategy” and the Birmingham Tolkien Group. Mick was known to many members of the TS, visitors and volunteers at the Sarehole Mill weekends and will be sorely missed.

Ian Collier, Tolkien Society Secretary & Trustee

See also: Birmingham Post story

About the Author: The Tolkien Society
The Tolkien Society is an educational charity and worldwide membership organisation devoted to promoting research into, and educating the public in, the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Society organises regular events (such as Oxonmoot and Tolkien Reading Day), publishes regular books and journal (such as Amon Hen and Mallorn), and is working towards a permanent home to Tolkien in the UK.