Tolkien the virtuoso banjo player...

[Mithalwen]

Last night's episode of "Lewis" the Inspector Morse spin off gave me the idea for a new thread. One of the characters was leading "Secret Oxford" guided tours in which she provided spoof information. One of these was that JRR Tolkien was a keen banjo player and played at the Turf Tavern (I think - the sign was obscured) with the "Thames Valley Cottonpickers" and even now some older residents of Oxford could remember is amazing rendition of "I wish I could shimmy just like like my sister Kate". Having just listened to a recording of an interview with Priscilla (thanks Dave) who said how much her fatehr enjoyed music I nearly ruptured myself laughing.

So does anyone have any interesting "facts" about Tolkien that never made it to the biographies?

Please note that this is meant to be light hearted and frivolous and anything that might be interpreted as insulting to the Prof or otherwise offensive will not be tolerated.