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English writer, scholar and philologist, Tolkien's father was a bank manager in South Africa. Shortly before his father died (1896) his mother took him and his younger brother to his father's native village of Sarehole, near Birmingham, England. The landscapes and Nordic mythology of the Midlands may have been the source for Tolkien's fertile imagination to write about 'the Shire' and 'hobbits' in his later book the Hobbit (1937). After his mother's death in 1904 he was looked after by Father Francis Xavier Morgan a RC priest of the Congregation of the Oratory. Tolkien was educated at King Edward VI school in Birmingham. He studied linguistics at Exeter College, Oxford, and took his B.A. in 1915. In 1916 he fought in World War I with the Lancashire Fusiliers. It is believed that his experiences during the Battle of the Somne may have been fueled the darker side of his subsequent novels. Upon his return he worked as an assistant on the Oxford English Dictionary (1918-20) and took his M.A. in 1919. In 1920 he became a teacher in English at the University of Leeds. He then went on to Merton College in Oxford, where he became Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon (1925-45) and Merton professor of English Language and Literature (1945-59). His first scholarly publication was an edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1925). He also wrote books on Chaucer (1934) and Beowulf (1937). In 1939 Tolkien gave the Andrew Lang Lecture at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland titled: "On Fairy-Stories". Tolkien will however be remembered most for his books the Hobbit (1937) and the Lord of the Rings (1954-55). The Hobbit began as a bedtime story for his children". He wrote Lord of the Rings over a period of about 14 years.

Tolkien also discussed parts of his novels with fellow Oxfordian and fantasy writer CS Lewis during their 'meetings'. He was trying to create a fantasy world so that he could explain how he had invented certain languages, and in doing so created 'Middle-earth'. However among his peers at Oxford his works were not well received as they were not considered 'scholarly'. It was after LOTR was published in paperback in the United States in 1965 that he developed his legendary cult following and also imitators. Tolkien was W. P. Ker lecturer at Glasgow University in 1953. In 1954 both the University of Liege and University College, Dublin, awarded him honorary doctorates. He received the CBE in 1972. He served as vice-president of the Philological Society and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was made an honorary fellow of Exeter College. Despite the immense popularity of his books today Tolkien did not greatly benefit from their sales. His son Christopher Tolkien was able to publish some of his works posthumously after his manuscripts were found.

For over six decades, Julian Holloway has enjoyed a long and varied career. He made his theatrical debut in London's West End in the revue "All Square" at the Vaudeville Theatre. Other West End credits include Christopher Hampton's first play "When Did You Last See My Mother?" at the Comedy Theatre, Colin Spencer's "Spitting Image" at the Duke of York's Theatre, replacing Michael Gambon in Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy "The Norman Conquests" at the Globe Theatre and a successful revival of "Arsenic And Old Lace" at the Westminster Theatre. He co-starred in the short lived BBC series of P.G.Wodehouse's "Ukridge" and then performed in his first "Carry On" venture, "Follow That Camel". This led to featured roles in, amongst others, "Carry On Up The Khyber", "Carry On Camping", "Carry On Camping" and "Carry On Loving". In 1971 he formed a company with director Gerry O' Hara and they wrote and produced two short films for the cinema, "The Spy's Wife" starring Dorothy Tutin and Tom Bell and "The Chairman's Wife" starring John Osborne and Zena Walker. He then concentrated almost entirely on Television and over the next decade racked up many performances, which included starring roles in BBC'S Play of the Month, "The Importance Of Being Earnest", "Elizabeth R", "An Adventure In Bed" (in the anthology series "Ten From The Twenties"), "Street Party"( in the anthology series "Jubilee") , ''A Woman Sobbing", the BBCTV mini series "Rebecca"and the trilogy "Conjugal Rights". He then made his directorial debut in the theatre, with his productions of "When Did You Last See My Mother" at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield and "Play It Again Sam" at the Thorndyke Theatre Leatherhead. In 1980 he produced with David Korda, the movie "Loophole" starring Albert Finney and Martin Sheen and followed this by appearing with Gregory Peck in the TV movie "The Scarlet And The Black". Having gained a reputation as a much in demand voice over talent, he formed the London voice over agency Hobsons with partner Sue Bonnici and the company became extremely successful. He co-starred in the Doctor Who trilogy, "Survival", the first series of Anglia TV's "The Chief" and episodes of popular shows, "Minder" "The New Avengers", "The Professionals" and "The Sweeney" as well as "Rumpole Of The Bailey". In the early 90's he took up residence in California and began a new phase of his career, in animation. Notably as a regular in the syndicated series "James Bond Jr", "Where's Waldo" and "Captain Zed And The Zee Zone". In 1993, he made his Broadway debut in a revival of "My Fair Lady" (playing the role of Alfred P Doolittle created by his father Stanley Holloway) After completing work on the 26 part animated series "Dan Dare", he returned to England to co-star with Albert Finney in the Yorkshire TV series, "My Uncle Silas". He returned to the U.S. and commenced work on the Dreamworks/Pixar network series "Father Of The Pride" but this show was short lived. He directed "Abigail's Party" at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles and the production was named the LA Times Critic's Choice. Recently he appeared with Johnny Depp in "The Rum Diary" and for the last three years has had a recurring role as the voice of "Death" in Cartoon Network's "Regular Show".

Michael Medwin was born on 18 July 1923 in London, England, UK. He was an actor and producer, known for Never Say Never Again (1983), The Duchess (2008) and If.... (1968). He was married to Sunny Sheila Back. He died on 26 February 2020 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Arnold Diamond was born on 18 April 1915 in London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Fiddler on the Roof (1971), The Italian Job (1969) and The Saint (1962). He died on 17 March 1992 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Born in Devon, Ed 'Stewpot' Stewart broke into broadcasting with a job at Radio Hong Kong working as a sports commentator, announcer and, finally, as a disc jockey. He returned to Britain in 1965 and joined the pirate station Radio London, before moving on to BBC Radio. He was one of Radio 1's original team of presenters, but is much remembered presenting Junior Choice on Radio 2 for 11 years. He also became a familiar face on British television, presenting Top of the Pops and the children's programme Crackerjack! (1955). Ed made radio history in 1995 when he broadcast his Radio 2 show live from the summits of Ben Nevis and Snowdon, in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Toni Gilpin was born in 1935 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Danger Man (1960), The Avengers (1961) and Some Will, Some Won't (1970). She was married to Richard Carr. She died on 25 October 2016 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Fred Hoyle was born on 24 June 1915 in Bingley, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for A for Andromeda (1961), A come Andromeda (1972) and A for Andromeda (2006). He was married to Barbara Clark. He died on 20 August 2001 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Freddie Stevens was born on 29 March 1934 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Tin Men (1987), Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show (1984) and Emu's World (1982). He died on 26 January 2016 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Irene Richmond was born on 15 November 1911 in Gresford, Wrexham, Clwyd, Wales, UK. She was an actress, known for The Likely Lads (1964), Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) and The Brain (1962). She died on 24 May 2009 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Laidman Browne was born on 13 September 1896 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Three Musketeers (1954), The Immortal Gentleman (1935) and The Treasure Seekers (1961). He died on 11 September 1961 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

John Wetton was born on 12 June 1949 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, UK. He was an actor and producer, known for The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Mandy (2018) and Good Boys (2019). He was married to Lisa Nojaim. He died on 31 January 2017 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Reginald Connelly was born in 1895 in England, UK. Reginald was a composer, known for Snowpiercer (2013), Ready Player One (2018) and Bad Times at the El Royale (2018). Reginald died on 23 September 1963 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Joyce Bland was born on 10 November 1906 in Caerleon, Wales, UK. She was an actress, known for The Barton Mystery (1932), Queen of Destiny (1938) and Magic Night (1932). She was married to John Kennedy Carruth. She died on 24 August 1963 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Denis West Payton was born on 11 August 1943 in Walthamstow, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Having a Wild Weekend (1965) and Hold On: It's the Dave Clark Five (1968). He died on 17 December 2006 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Ken Norris was born on 15 November 1921 in Cuckfield, Sussex, England, UK. He was an actor and producer, known for Too Scared to Scream (1984), Bizarre (1970) and Little House on the Prairie (1974). He died on 1 October 2005 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Hurford Janes was born on 8 June 1909 in Fulham, London, England, UK. Hurford was a writer, known for The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), London Playhouse (1955) and ITV Play of the Week (1955). Hurford died in March 2000 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Bill Cotton was born on 23 April 1928 in Paddington, London, England, UK. He was a producer and director, known for Play Your Hunch (1961), Searching (1995) and Billy Cotton Band Show (1956). He was married to Kathryn (Kate) Mary Burgess, Ann Corfield Henderson and Bernardine (Boo) Maud Sinclair. He died on 11 August 2008 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

George Blackwell was born on 26 February 1907 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK. He is known for Curse of the Demon (1957), Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) and The Inheritance (1947). He died in 1975 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

George Courtney Ward was born in 1917 in Christchurch, Dorset, England, UK. George Courtney is known for The Ipcress File (1965), The Assassination Bureau (1969) and And Soon the Darkness (1970). George Courtney died on 15 February 2011 in Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Rosemary Scott was born on 16 February 1912 in Sunderland, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Scotland Yard (1960), Six Days of Justice (1972) and Arms and the Man (1946). She was married to Julian D'Albie. She died on 23 February 2002 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Pauline Garner was born in 1938 in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Crossroads (1964). She died on 28 July 2019 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Joe Vegoda was born on 17 December 1910. Joe was a producer, known for Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965), Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) and What a Whopper (1961). Joe died on 4 January 1986 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

John Dunsford was born on 11 October 1926 in London, England, UK. He was an editor, known for The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959), The Ugly Duckling (1959) and The Crimson Blade (1963). He was married to Angela Dunsford. He died in 1995 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Betty Crowe was born in 1927 in England, UK. She was an assistant director, known for Chance in a Million (1984), The Return of Shelley (1988) and The English Programme (1976). She died on 30 May 2014 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.

Geoffrey Botterill was born on 26 November 1924 in London, England, UK. He was an editor, known for The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling (1963), Doctor Who (1963) and Golden Girl (1960). He died on 31 October 2011 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.