A school where two long-forgotten poems by Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien were rediscovered has received specialist copyright and intellectual property advice from the Bristol office of regional law firm Thrings.
The two poems – The Shadow Man and Noel – were found in the 1936 annual magazine of Our Lady’s School in Abingdon in Oxfordshire. They are thought to have been written while Tolkien was a professor at Oxford University. 
Graeme Fearon, pictured, a specialist in intellectual property and data protection based in Thrings’ Bristol office, helped the school establish the legal status of the poems and ensured there was no unauthorised publication or breach of copyright.
The discovery was made after Tolkien expert Wayne G. Hammond found a note from Tolkien in which the author referred to two poems he had submitted to the Abingdon Chronicle.
Tracking this reference to Our Lady’s School magazine, Hammond contacted principal Stephen Oliver who passed the query on to archivists at the Bermondsey convent of the Sisters of Mercy, who founded the school in 1860.
But, while preparing for an event for school alumni, Mr Oliver came across an original copy of the magazine, complete with the two poems in question.
The poems have sparked a huge amount of interest among Tolkien enthusiasts and media around the world. Recognising their considerable literary significance, Mr Oliver worked with Thrings.
Mr Fearon, a specialist in intellectual property and data protection, said: “Many of Tolkien’s stories deal with hidden treasure, so it’s a nice twist that some of his own works have been rediscovered after lying buried for so long.
“The school’s original copies of the newspaper will now be worth considerably more than they were before, but that shouldn’t be confused with the value of the copyright in the poems themselves – that belongs to Tolkien’s Estate and only they can authorise any fresh publication.”
Our Lady’s School has indicated its intention to display its copy of the poems at an exhibition about the school’s history.
Thrings also has offices in Swindon, Bath and London.
