Look who's Tolkien...

BLESS my beard! It's Hobbit Day - an annual event marking the birthday of waistcoat-loving, barefoot homebodies Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, from the Middle Earth books by J.R.R. Tolkien. But how much do you know about the eccentric Lord Of The Rings author? Here MEG JORSH goes tunnelling for facts...

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He was Ronald to his mates.

The novelist was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on January 3, 1892. History is unclear on whether or not he would answer to “Ron”.

He moved to Sarehole, just outside Birmingham, in 1895 and the picturesque village inspired his later writing. Hobbiton Mill is thought to have been based on Sarehole Mill, now a museum.

His dad Arthur died of rheumatic fever in 1896, then Ronald was tragically orphaned in 1904. Mum Mabel fell victim to diabetes - a fatal condition before the discovery of insulin.

Tolkien was then raised by Catholic priest Francis Xavier Morgan and attended King Edward’s School in Birmingham. Fellow alumni include authors Lee Child and Jonathan Coe, and racist politician Enoch Powell.