Author: Steve Vickars

This morning Kirtlington played host to eighteen ringers from Oxford, Witney&Woodstock, Banbury and Bicester Branches to the Oxford City Easter Branch Practice, with ringers looking to get back into the swing of things after Holy Week.

Only the front three needed raising so we quickly got to ringing several plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles for Julie, Christine, Evadne and Sue. Vikki also tenored nicely behind.

Julie rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles unaffected, while Sally trebled to a plain course and touch of Bob Doubles.

We then rang some courses of Plain Hunt on Seven with Vikki inside (a first Plain Hunt on Seven), then a plain course of Plain Bob Triples for Ruth, to which Christine tenored behind.

For Ala we rang a few plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, followed by a plain course of Cambridge Minor, which settled down after a few leads.

For our more experienced ringers we rang a plain course of Stedman Triples as well as a plain course of Plain Bob Major at the end before we lowered on eight. Below is the obligatory team photo.

To note that this Thursday 13th April Weston on-the-Green will be hosting the next Bicester Branch practice. Hope to see you there!

Seventeen ringers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Kirtlington, led by Richard, Branch Ringing Master with Teresa in attendance.

We raised the front six and then the back two, followed by a set of rounds and call changes on eight.

Lots of our ringers tonight wanted to practice Plain Bob Doubles so we obliged with a starting touch, with Judith, Celia, Jan and Ruth inside and Sally on treble, Dan covering.

Next we rang a number of plain courses of bob doubles, giving Sue C, Sue M, Dan and Christine turns inside.

After more rounds and call changes for Michael, we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor, followed by plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Sue, Barbara and Sally. Julie and Mandy took turns to ring covering tenor.

We also rang Plain Hunt on six with two bands, giving Sally, Judith, Ruth, Dan, Sue and Sue turns inside, followed by Plain Hunt on seven, with Christine covering on tenor. We finished with a reasonable lower on eight and the obligatory team photo.

Another full practice, thank you everyone!

Estimates put it that we had as many as 21 ringers at last night’s Branch Practice at Bicester, with two recent recruits attending only their 2nd practice.

We kicked off with attempted rounds and call changes on ten, which challenged us to keep a closer gap between the bells.

Next a touch of Bob Doubles on the back six, with Judith affected, which went well.

After more rounds for less experienced ringers we attempted Plain Hunt on seven, which was quite challenging for some.
Sally tenored to three consecutive plain courses of Grandsire, with nice striking at the end.
Sue rang treble to a set of rounds and call changes, while Mandy covered nicely to a touch of Grandsire Doubles, called by Jeremy.

At Gerald’s request we returned to call changes on ten, which went rather better, before we rang a plain course of Grandsire Triples, called by Steve W, with Gerald ringing tenor behind for the first time to a triples method. Well done, Gerald!

Finally we lowered the back eight in peal, with Judith and Gerald in the band, finishing in Queens.

The next branch practice is at Kirtlington on Monday 20th March. See you then!