Secrets of a spectacular bucket list

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.

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