Tolkien's Death

In the summer of 1973 one of the Merton porters passed away suddenly. As an interim measure prior to recruitment, the College asked myself and another graduate student to share a porter's roster in the Lodge - I think this entailed one morning, one afternoon and one overnight shift in a week for each of us. In those days, the first part of the Porter's lodge was an open area for pigeon holes, and the porters were behind that with a separate room yet further behind for sleeping on overnight shifts. One Saturday night overnight shift (1-2 September 1973) I had to answer the phone very early on Sunday morning. It was a call from Bournemouth from a very distressed lady (I was never quite sure who or what function) who had found Tolkien dead, so I was one of the very first to hear that sad news. I had to inform the College authorities. 

-Brian Witherden (1971)

I recall in 1973 sitting in the JCR after Tolkien’s death, reading an appreciation by his son. I remember the final sentence: ‘My Father was the best friend I ever had’. I often thought of this over the years, when preparing and conducting funerals.

-Peter Forster (1969) Chemistry 1969-73, subsequently an Anglican priest, and Bishop of Chester 1996-2019