Old amongst the firstborn - I think I read the Hobbit in about '79 - whenever it was screened on Jackanory! I had to read it to fill in the gaps.... I bought the first four volumes of HoME as they were issued in paperback and had to wait until 2002 to complete the set. Eek that date ..... not really old enough for a silver Jubilee - I was a very precocious reader ... in fact I read the Hobbit in utero...
