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Special Bicester practice Jan 2017

Monday 16th January was reported in the news today as being the most depressing day of the year. From a branch ringing perspective, it was anything but! Bicester played host to the January special practice to which 9 ringers (3 from outside the branch) came along.

After ringing up we started with plain courses of Plain Bob Minor (the first of the nominated methods for the evening). We set a fast pace and the striking was really good 😀 Then following a straw poll of the (then 8) ringers to see the capabilities we raised the back 4 so we could ring 8 bell methods as well as 6 bell ones.

Having raised them we rang plain hunt first on 7 and then on 8. Then whilst Helen came up the stairs we rang Winchendon Place (the other nominated method).

We then rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Helen before a successful touch of Plain Bob Minor with singles to stretch Jeremy.

Time to push the boat out (so to speak).. with Helen on the treble we rang two courses of Grandsire Triples! We then rang Winchendon Place again with Ian inside. Jeremy then challenged Kathryn to follow suit which she did successfully.

We finished with some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and then rang down the back 8 in peal (not too bad really). What an excellent practice and a good start to 2017.

Our next practice is slated to be the branch practice at Kirtlington on Feb 6th, but (subject to confirmation) we will be swapping this to Bicester (and the Bicester practice on March 6th will be at Kirtlington) as Kirtlington have work scheduled on their bells early February. Please watch the website diary and emails for confirmation of this revision.

Anthony Cole

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First BP of 2017

On Tues 3rd Jan, the first day back to work for many, Islip hosted the first branch practice of 2017.

We just had enough with 6 ringers and rang plain hunt for Sue, plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for James and Sally, call changes, more Grandsire Doubles and plain hunt. We also had some useful discussions on how call changes work.

Next practice is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 16th Jan – Plain Bob Minor and Winchendon Place Doubles are the proposed methods.

Anthony Cole

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Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year folks!

Late on Saturday 31st December, 6 ringers pulled themselves away from Kathryn’s New Year party (a first for the Cole kids – though Grace fell asleep about 15 mins before midnight!) to head up Islip tower. We nearly had a lock-out as the visitors earlier in the day had left the key to the ringing room in the wrong place, but thanks to Sue looking at the colonies of ladybirds we spotted the key and made it into the ringing room in time to ring up and have 2 mins rounds before midnight.

Making sure we allowed for the leap second that was added to the end of 2016 the tenor tolled the 12 strikes of midnight (something the church clock hasn’t been doing for a few months) and then rang some call changes to announce the start of 2017 to the village. We then rang down and headed back to the PARTY 😀

New Year 2017- Islip
New Year 2017- Islip

Did any other branch towers ring in the New Year? (Let me know and I’ll add details to this page).

The first branch event of 2017 is on Tuesday at Islip – ringing is a great way to exercise off all those Christmas excesses so get ringing!

Anthony Cole

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Ding dong Christmas 2016

On Mon 19th Dec we had 16 ringers representing 6 branch towers, one Oxford City tower and the Bicester Branch Cornwall office attended the final special practice of 2016 which was held at Kirtlington, and followed by a social at Caroline’s house.

We started with ringing up on all 8 (brave.. perhaps a bit too brave) before moving on to rounds and call changes (well done to Ellie and Brenda), followed by plain hunt on 7 (well done Judith, Caroline, Louise and Rachel).

Steve suggested we try something more advanced so we “attempted” one of the chosen methods for the evening.. St Clements Minor.. we didn’t manage a course despite a few attempts. More call changes followed, then plain hunt on 7 and then 8. We were encouraged to ring something more advanced again, but this time opted for a touch of Plain Bob Minor which went much better and was applauded at the end.

We rang down on 8 (good most of the way down) and then headed across the green to Caroline’s house for the Christmas social where nibbles & mulled wine (and other beverages) were consumed and the handbells made an appearance also (see facebook for our rather failed attempts at some Christmas carols!)

It’s been a busy year and we seem to have made some great progress. Have a great Christmas and a Happy 2017 everyone. Our first practice of 2017 is on 3rd January in Islip – hopefully see you there.

Anthony Cole

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Charlton changes December 2016

On Wednesday 7th December 8 guild members (7 branch members plus our Guild Steward Colin) headed for the Branch Practice At Charlton On Otmoor.

We started with plain course of Grandsire Doubles for Gareth, followed by a rather shaky touch of Plain Bob Doubles for SteveC.

We then had a touch of Grandsire Doubles and and another go at the touch of Plain Bob Doubles.

We then had some plain hunt on 6 and more Grandsire Doubles plain courses before another touch of Grandsire Doubles with SteveV inside. We finished with a couple of courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles and down.

As with most Charlton practices we headed across the road for some drinks before heading home.

Our next (and last) practice will be the special practice and Christmas social at KIRTLINGTON (not Bicester as previously advertised) on Mon 19th December. Hopefully see lots of you there 🙂

Anthony Cole

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In memory 3 December 2016

Today a quarter peal was rung in Islip – details below:

Oxford Diocesan Guild
Islip, Oxon
St Nicholas
Saturday 3 December 2016 in 47mins
1260 Grandsire Doubles

1   Sally Wale
2   Kathryn Grant
3   Ron Burgess
4   Keith Thomas
5   Anthony Cole (C)
6   Teresa Carter

In celebration of the life of Eileen Mary Grant 30/1121-03/12/2015, her beloved dog Lucy 24/01/2002-23/11/2016 and the marriage of her granddaughter Alexandra Durnford to Tim Johnson on 03/12/2016

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November 2016 Special – Islip

On Tues 22nd Nov 8 ringers attended the “special” practice at Islip.

It was clear from the start we would have fewer ringers than usual, and thus Plain Bob Triples (scheduled for that practice) was not on the cards. However, St Simon’s looked possible.

After ringing up we started with call changes on all 8 bells. Next we rang plain hunt on 5 with Sue making good progress.

Next we rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Becky on the 3 – a little shaky, but not bad really.

Next was some more plain hunt with Becky attempting the tenor behind for the first time, and Sue inside – getting better!

Another few courses of Grandsire Doubles were rung for Becky before she had to go home.

Next we tried St Simon’s Doubles and,  although shaky, we got through two courses.

More plain hunt for Sue (this time without anyone stood behind, and she rang it very well).

We rang more St Simon’s to finish (slightly different band) then rang down 6 in peal.

The pub was sadly closed 🙁

The next branch event is the branch practice at Charlton On Otmoor on Wed 7th December – hopefully see lots of you there (must get my Christmas cards sorted!!)

Anthony Cole

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10-4 Bletchingdon Nov 2016

Bellringing (Campanology) is often thought of as an old man’s hobby, at least by the non-ringer. However, last night proved anything but with 10 women and only 4 men attending. As a branch most towers have the same of each gender or more female ringers than male.

By the time we had enough to ring up at the Bletchingdon branch practice on Wed 2 Nov I was feeling a little outnumbered as the only male present! However, that ratio improved as the evening progressed.

After a rough “up” we started with call changes and then followed it with plain hunt and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. The evening progressed with more of each of these, visible (and auditory) progress being made in the plain hunt.

Mike (tower captain of Launton) caused a little consternation with the Bletchingdon tower captain as she did not know him and he feigned not being a capable ringer.. don’t think she will let him forget that 😀 Ribbing continued throughout the evening!

We managed a touch of Grandsire Doubles (well done Sue ringing half hunt) and after some plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles we also managed a touch of Plain Bob Doubles to consolidate the progress made by two of our members who were fresh from attending the Steeple Aston course on Plain Bob Doubles.

“Down” was actually rather good, despite the apprehension displayed by those catching hold.

The next branch event is on Tues 22nd November at Islip.

Anthony Cole