On Saturday 15th October a small band of ringers 8 branch members (plus 1 new recruit) met at Finmere for the branch “mini tour” – mini in various ways.
Finmere bells (only 3 of them) are rung from the back of the church (ground floor) and the ropes fall in a straight line, fairly close to the wall so to ring them you have to face the wall! We rang plain hunt on 3 and Shipping Forecast Singles.
We had planned to visit Mixbury (another 3 nearby) but having inspected them about a month ago we considered them not safe (due to a large crack in the tenor’s headstock). So we headed next to Fritwell (4 bells). The ringing room is accessed from the back of the church, walking under the impressive pipe organ and up a narrow staircase. The one light wasn’t working (!) but that didn’t stop us ringing plain hunt, plain bob minimus and call changes for our newest branch recruit Grace. The bells were fairly loud, but went well.
Next was Stoke Lyne (3) where the bells are rung from a ringing room accessed from a very narrow staircase. The bells are VERY loud and the frame (whilst ok, especially following maintenance performed by Jeremy and I about 6 months ago) does move. That said, we managed plain hunt and Shipping Forecast Singles, but headed off to the next tower after not that long (or to ringing for a wedding for 2 of our members).
Chesterton (3) was our pre-lunch stop and we were given a warm welcome by Linda and Hilary. This tower is accessed from a staircase outside of the church. We rang plain hunt on 3, and Shipping Forecast Singles here. Well done Samuel for managing the treble (the bells are not light so even the treble was heavier than he is used to).
We headed to a pub for lunch before heading down the motorway for a different type of “mini” tour – before lunch was a mini number of bells (3 or 4), after lunch was 8 mini bells. Sadly we only had (including the owner) 6 ringers, but that didn’t stop us having fun trying to ring all 8 (Mark & myself ringing two bells each), Grandsire Doubles, and plain hunt on 6. Everyone had a go at ringing two bells (those on facebook will find a video of Samuel ringing two!) though we didn’t try everyone ringing two in rounds. We did get a few ropes slipping wheel and/or being let go of only to see the rope disappear upstairs (no sliders on these bells as Mark would be replacing them every time the bells were rung, but with the tenor only weighing around 25kg they’re not needed).
It proved a good fun day out and some villages in the Bicester branch heard their bells being rung (not something they’re used to!)
Next branch event is the special practice at Islip on Tuesday! Hope to see you there soon.
Anthony Cole