Secrets of a spectacular bucket list
Royd Tolkien, the great-grandson of JRR Tolkien, is touring New Zealand discovering what makes up a truly spectacular
bucket list.
The catch? It's not his list, and he has no idea what's on it until seconds before he's filmed completing each item of
the 50-long list.
Royd's bucket list was left for him by his younger brother Mike, who died two years ago aged just 39. Mike was a
daredevil and adventurer who loved to physically challenge himself. Sadly, his greatest physical challenge was his last:
the neurological illness motor neurone disease (MND), which causes progressive paralysis of all the body's muscles,
including those required to walk, talk and, eventually, breathe.
Royd preferred a more leisurely life, a nice cup of tea and a sit down – and having a laugh with his little brother.
After Mike's diagnosis with MND in 2012 the brothers planned to visit New Zealand so Mike could feast on the crazy
adrenaline sports he loved, one last time. But the fastmoving nature of MND made this impossible. So he set Royd a
challenge: to complete his bucket list for him. This was no ordinary bucket list. Mike's list was 50 items long, with
many orchestrated to create awkward and embarrassing situations that would make Royd cringe, and laugh, and remember his
brother.
Royd's bucket list journey is nearly over, and it has been filmed to create a documentary titled There's a Hole in my Bucket.
Royd returns to Wellington on Wednesday 12 April, and is the guest of honour at a cocktail-style evening event at the Roxy Cinema, Miramar. He will be speaking about his experiences and journey from his brother's diagnosis to today – and like his
greatgrandfather, he has a gift for a good yarn.
We invite all those interested in writing their own bucket list to come and talk to Royd. Can ticking items off a bucket
list change you as a person? Can a bucket list really contribute to your life, while you are living it?
“I knew this journey would be tough,” says Royd, “and not just because I’m a huge pussy and always took the path of
least resistance, but because it was reconnecting me with Mike after two years apart.”
“There’s no doubt he’s pushed me well outside my comfort zone, but importantly, he’s once again reminded me of how
essential it is to live every second of my life like it’s my last.”
“My hope is to ignite a passion for life we all should have raging within us. To fully appreciate the family and friends
we hold dear and close, and to not wait until something terrible happens before realising that.”
An Evening With Royd Tolkien
Wednesday 12 April
Roxy Cinema, Miramar, 7-10pm
Tickets $75 (wine and canapés included)
To book email jodieattard@hotmail.com
This is a fundraising evening for MND New Zealand. An auction will be held with fabulous prizes from Weta Workshop and
others, with our entertaining auctioneer, The Hobbit and LOTR actor Jed Brophy.