HUNDREDS of JRR Tolkien fans are about to descend on Oxford to pay homage to The Hobbit, one of the author’s most famous creations.

Since the author died in 1973 members of the Tolkien Society have gathered annually in the city where he wrote The Hobbit, and its sequel The Lord of the Rings.

Members meet on the weekend closest to September 22, the birthday shared by Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, and his nephew Frodo.

About 200 members will attend this year’s convention – known as Oxonmoot – at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, from September 23 to September 25.

They will take part in talks, quizzes and seminars about the former Oxford don and his work.

Society spokesman Claire Richards said: “With a two-part film of The Hobbit being made at the moment, it’s an exciting time to be a member of the Tolkien Society and Oxonmoot is one of our biggest gatherings.

“Most of the people come from the UK but we also get visitors from across Europe and quite a few people from the Netherlands.

“On the Sunday, people will go to the Catholic section of Wolvercote Cemetery to visit Tolkien’s grave and lay a wreath.”

The professor died at 79 and is buried with his wife Edith.

Electronics consultant Martin Smith, 54, the society’s treasurer, who lives near Bicester, said he got hooked on Tolkien after first reading The Hobbit as a teenager at school.

He added: “I have been going to Oxonmoot since 1982 and it’s great fun.

“You meet a wide range of people – from those who have produced learned articles on the books to those who simply enjoy reading them. The visit to Tolkien’s grave is a quiet, private and important part of the weekend.”

Those taking part in Oxonmoot are also expected to stop off at well-known landmarks with Tolkien connections, including The Eagle and Child pub in St Giles, where Tolkien and Narnia author CS Lewis, both members of the Inklings writing group, used to meet.

This year’s Oxonmoot paves the way for The Return of the Ring, the society’s main event of 2012, which is being held at Loughborough University from August 16 to August 20.

It will include a banquet and a costume masquerade, and medieval re-enactors will travel from France to set up a camp to recreate Middle Earth.

Tolkien was appointed Merton Professor of English language and literature at Oxford University in 1945.

The Hobbit was written in 1936 at his home in Northmoor Road, North Oxford, and a blue plaque on the outside of the house is a reminder that he once lived there.

The author’s other bestsellers were written in the garage of his home in Sandfield Road, Headington.

For details about Oxonmoot visit tolkiensociety.org