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October 2016 special at Islip

On Tuesday 18th October Islip hosted our monthly special practice. On the schedule was Reverse Canterbury Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. 10 ringers (from 5 towers) attended.

After ringing up we started with plain hunt on 7 – looked to be the first time for Becky and she managed well as did our youngest member, Sam, on the treble. Next we tried a touch of Plain Bob Minor (Jeremy requested “Singles”).. well, after a few attempts we determined to try again later!

Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Becky inside with help from Kathryn. Next we rang plain courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles (Kathryn and Teresa fought over who would ring the treble – Teresa won :D).

We tried the Plain Bob Minor again, and after a few tries with “Bobs” we settled for a plain course to ensure we got all the way to rounds!

We rang some more plain hunt on 7 before Becky had to leave and then rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Steve attempting inside ahead of his attending the Steeple Aston course this coming Saturday.

As our finale we rang a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples which went well.

We rang all 8 down in peal which was rather well struck before heading home (or for some to Kathryn’s home for a few glasses of water (!) – the pub is now closed on Tuesdays sadly).

Our next branch event is the November branch practice in Bletchingdon on Wed 2nd Nov. Hopefully see lots of you there.

Anthony Cole

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Ring along a mini ding dong October 2016

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

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Bicester triples birthday fun 3rd Oct 2016

On Mon 3rd Octboer Bicester played host to the October branch practice with 10 ringers (9 branch members plus a visitor from Northampton).

We started by ringing up the back 6 and then ringing the 3 & 4 up so we had the back 8.

We started with call changes on the 8 and  then 2 more people arrived so we rang up the trebles.

We rang rounds on 10, then plain hunt on 5. Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Triples and some call changes on 8. Next was a touch of Grandsire Doubles. The Bicester regulars had been trying to learn All Hallows so we rang some plain courses, followed by more plain hunt on 5 and a touch of Plain Bob Minor on the back 6. Then we rang down and (as it was my birthday the next day) we headed for the Littlebury Hotel bar for a drink.

The next branch event is the mini-tour on Sat 15th October. Details have been circulated by email.

Anthony Cole

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September 2016 special at Bletchingdon

On Wed 28th Sept 13 guild members (a mixture from Bicester and Yarnton in the W&W Branch) headed for Bletchingdon and the September special practice.

After a rather shaky up we started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. After 3 goes at this we tried a touch (bobs only) for a couple of people. After more plain courses we rang more touches including one with Singles. Nice to see Sue getting more confident with the half-hunt touch on the 3.

We ended the evening with a couple of plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles before a reasonable ring down.

The next branch event is the branch practice at Bicester next Monday 3rd Oct (which, given it is my birthday the next day, I hope to drag some people to the pub!)

Details of the mini-outing will be made available shortly (starts 10am Sat 15 Oct at Finmere).

Anthony Cole

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Launton September 2016

On Tuesday 6th Sept Launton hosted the September Branch Practice. 12 members from 6 towers attended. The evening was rather warm and muggy but (unlike last year when it rained) those not ringing were able to sit on the bench outside the tower.

After a shaky up we rang first plain courses and then a touch of Grandsire Doubles. We rang more plain courses before some Plain Bob Doubles, a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, another touch of Grandsire and some Plain Bob Minor. One final course of Grandsire Doubles was followed by ringing down with mixed results.

Following the practice favourable comments were given to the local Launton ringers so it must have sounded good 😀

Next on the branch schedule we have a special practice at Bletchingdon on Wed 28th Sept (Grandsire and Plain Bob Doubles). Details of the “Mini-tour” will hopefully be available shortly – date for your diary – Saturday 15th October.

Anthony Cole

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BBQ and SC 2016

On Saturday 3rd Sept Bicester played host to the 2016 branch Striking Competition and BBQ.

It was a rather wet evening, but we had three teams in the competition which was judged by Richard White from Woodstock.

Team 1 (Bicester) rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles, incuring 52 faults.

Team  2 (Caversfield – defending champions) rang 4 plain courses of Gradnsire Doubles (having only rung call changes last year, but the team has progressed), incurring 58 faults.

Team 3 (Islip) with the help from two Stratton Audley ringers rang call changes and incurred 56 faults.

All very close as you can see, but Bicester topped the standings this year.

Thanks to Helen and Rob Parkinson who opened their home to us all we had a lovely evening (despite the rain) with a BBQ, salads, puddings (rather alcoholic trifle :9) and lots of chatting. A fun evening and my thanks to all who took part and contributed to the food.

Next branch practice is on Tuesday at Launton – hopefully see you there (and hope the weather is better!)

Anthony Cole

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On tour 2016

It is the holiday season and the Cole’s headed for Cornwall last week for a (well needed!) holiday. In between visiting the Lost gardens of Heligan (we found them!) and the Eden Project we visited former Islip ringer Rachel Holt and guess what we ended up doing? When bellringers go on tour, we go ringing!!#

St German

Rachel took us to one of her new regular towers in the village of St German’s which is an 8 bell tower that rings call changes (Devon style) so a new experience for us! After ringing up  on the back 5 (fairly fast) we rang down again (slower) and then back up again on 7. We rang call changes (they called “up” as I do :D) but there were some differences.. they gave a warning “prepare to stand” or something like that… before calling stand; calls were made not the preceding handstroke (as we do) but 2 handstrokes before – which gives you more time to think before the change. The sally is called the “fillet” .. something fishy about that.. and when you start ringing up, instead of one bell ringing, then two bells, then three etc, they all swing their bell once then pull hard to check the bell so the first the neighbours hear is all the bells in rounds.

They asked me to call some changes towards the end and Sarah led down getting them to miss and catch (our style).

It was a fun evening and nice to try a different style of ringing.

Anthony Cole

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Cheers – August 2016

On Friday 5th August 14 ringers from across the branch (ad one former-branch member up from Cornwall) headed for the branch practice at Ludgershall.

After ringing up we went straight into a touch of Grandsire Doubles and then helped he locals with a few plain courses of Blaisdon Bob Doubles (not exactly a regularly rung method at branch practices, but the locals had been learning it because if instead of using the Blaisdon “Bob” you substitute it with a Grandsire “Single” .. called as a “Bob” you get the Doubles variation “Ludgershall”.

Next we did plain hunt on 5 and Plain Bob Doubles and  another touch of Grandsire Doubles.

On request we then had a touch of Stedman Doubles (and a comment from Simon of how many dodges there were at the back) and more plain hunt before some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles.

Despite “we haven’t got past the first bob” and other misgivings, as our finale I felt we ought to try to complete a touch of Ludgershall…. a little wobbly at the first bob, but onwards we went .. completing the 120 successfully to a round of applause.

We rang down and then brought out the Prosecco … yes I did type that right.. this was because Sarah and I were celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary by going ringing to the branch practice! Following a toast from Jeremy and Rachel (I think!) Sarah and I tried to get others to follow us to the pub but I don’t think anyone wanted to be a gooseberry on our night out without the kids!

The big summer break is now upon is and the next branch event is the branch Striking Competition and BBQ at Bicester on Saturday 3rd September – 5:30pm ringing followed by BBQ at the Old Priory in Priory Lane (home of Helen, ringer of Bicester). The competition will be judged by Richard White of Woodstock and promises to be a good fun evening – my fellow Caversfield team members and I are hoping to defend our trophy so from our perspective we hope no other teams enter(!), but I would encourage you to enter a team if you can (we won with relatively new recruits ringing call changes last year). Please let Kathryn or Anthony know if you’re coming to the BBQ to give us an idea for catering.

Anthony Cole

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Spliced anyone? 16 July 2016

On Saturday 16th July we held our annual branch training course. Following successive years of Ringing Up & Down this year we held a rope splicing course.

Stratton Audley hosted the course where 6 students came along to try both short and long splices. I demonstrated a short splice first of all and then (thanks to Steve for bringing some old ropes – unusable as bell ropes anymore due to their length/past breakages) we headed into the sunny churchyard to have a go. Results were mixed – some having difficulties and others finding it easier (and the resulting “fixed” ropes resulted in the odd tug of war to test their strength).

After a couple of hours trying we moved on to long splices (Jeremy had got ahead of us following the instructions printed off the website).. I demonstrated how to do a long splice and then the students had a go, again with mixed results.

It was the first time I had taught splicing so that was interesting and I have picked up some traps to watch out for another time, and the students seemed to enjoy the practice too.

Anthony Cole

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July 2016 Islip practice

Tues July 19th was special in a number of ways. Firstly it was Samuel’s 12th birthday, and also it was the evening of the July Special practice which was hosted by Islip.

9 branch members (from 5 towers) braved the hottest day of the year so far.

Whilst Kent TB Minor was one of the nominated methods that was not going to happen; however plain courses of Grandsire and Plain Bob Doubles were rung,  interspersed with call changes for Islip’s rapidly improving learner, and a touch of Grandsire Doubles was attempted too (perhaps a conducting course is required to help when the Ringing Master is away??). The lure of the pub and a drink outside persuaded us to finish punctually with a very competent lower!

Anthony Cole