Not really sure of the validity of this. It seems that even the most tenuous connection to Tolkien's works receives a disproportionate amount of media hype. However, I imagine the value of the ring in question has since increased somewhat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-22008746

You are correct, one thing that is used over and over again, is that Tolkien needed influences and had no imagination

This is incorrect in nearly every case, but I think this may have some validity, interesting to see comments.

http://books.google.com/books?id=B0lo ... onepage&q=wheeler&f=false

Wheeler is also mentioned in Scull and Hammond's C&G

Nope; there's no evidence that Tolkien visited the site - there was no reason for him to do so; he and Wheeler communicated by letter. Tolkien was asked to write about the name Nodens; the Silchester ring was not discussed in the Wheeler report.