Admin – Page 6 – The Bicester Branch

21st January 201617th February 2021

Useful nonetheless – 19th Jan 2016

On Tuesday 19th January 4 branch members, 1 former branch member and 3 recruits headed for Islip and the first “special” practice of the year.

We started with rounds for the more recent recruits and then progressed to Plain Hunt on 5 for Becky.

Next we rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles – this didn’t go exactly to plan (the conductor miscalled it and had to swiftly recompose to get it back round .. much to the amusement of Willy Haynes!).

Next we had more rounds before Becky had her first attempt at Plain Hunt on 6 (successful!).

After more rounds before Sue left, we rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Becky having her first attempt on the treble (having watched earlier) – with Teresa as a minder. It went well so plenty of homework to look at in the coming weeks 😀

We finished with a short touch of Grandsire Doubles with Sally half-hunt before heading to the Red Lion to help our branch president celebrate his birthday.

A few regulars were unable to attend so we didn’t try our nominated methods (PB Minor and Winchendon Place) but it was a useful practice nonetheless.

The next branch event is (again) at Islip – the February branch practice – a slight change from the advertised schedule to allow Kirtlington’s ringing room floor to be fixed before we visit in March.

Anthony Cole

15th January 201617th February 2021

Apply now for Radley 2016 ringing course

Message from the Guild Representative.

One of the things that the Guild provides for all members, is to run courses.

The next course to be run is at Radley (near Abingdon) on Saturday 9th April 2016 and applications need to be in by 31^st January.

See http://odg.org.uk/pdf/Radley2016.pdf poster for how to apply, or use Guild Website link below.

These courses provide an excellent opportunity for anyone needing help in learning methods. The Radley course covers basic methods such as Plain Bob Doubles and Grandsire doubles, and is for all members meeting the criteria outlined below.

(The Guild also runs courses for more advanced methods at other times in the year, see the guild website for details, Education tab).

Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers

Education Committee

Ringing Criteria for the Radley Course

To ensure the safety of the students, helpers and tutors on this course a standard of ringing competence and understanding is required.

While we try to make sure that all of the bells we use are suitable for teaching, they may be much lighter or heavier than the bells in your home tower, there may be steps or ladders to access the ringing room, the length of the draught may be much longer or shorter than you are used to, and there may be any number of other peculiarities to deal with. For this reason, we ask that you are able to ring a bell competently and confidently on your own, and you should ideally have experience of ringing a range of different bells, including bells in other towers, so that you are not impeded in your progress and can take full advantage of the tuition provided on the course.

All students must be members of the Oxford Diocesan Guild, and therefore regular Sunday service ringers.

The tower Captain or Tower ringing Tutor should fill in the ringing ability section on the application form giving their name to this.

If the student is under 18 a permission to ring form needs to be filled in and this will be forwarded on receipt of the application. A parent or an appointed responsible adult needs to be present on the course. This could be a helper.

This criteria will also help the tutor to plan the course as they will be aware that the student understands these requirements.

From the point of view of the student, the day goes like this:

Meet at the hall approx 9 am

Tea and coffee available. Bookstall also available.

Meet the other students in your group, and your tutor.

Students are put into groups of 5 people, according to the method they requested.

Theory for about 1 hour, then travel to your first tower. Cars are shared, so that less parking space is needed.

At the first tower, you will meet the helpers. In my experience, the helpers always ring up and down at the first tower (volunteers at later sessions). Early on, you will need to select your meal for the pub lunch (or you can take your own packed lunch).

The tutor then needs to find out what each student can do, so each student in turn has a go (together with 5 helpers).

Each tower session is 1½ hours, so at the first tower, each student will probably get 2 goes.

Pub Lunch

In the afternoon, there will be 2 more tower sessions, and they will develop according to everyone’s ability. The tutor may keep to only one student at a time, or he/she may include two or more students at a time.

The great advantage of these courses is that, as a learner, you are surrounded by helpers who know the method well, as well as a tutor standing by to help you. This is a brilliant way to get to know a method, and I would thoroughly recommend these courses.

After the 3^rd tower session, everyone returns to the hall, where a meal is provided (cooked by volunteers, and is always excellent). The tutors give a short summary of their class, and certificates are provided. The day finishes at around 8pm.

For the last couple of years, applications for the basic methods courses were very low, but are now rising again. I would encourage anyone who needs some help with a method to go on one of these courses. (They are not just for some mysterious elite ringers. All who meet the criteria above may apply). The day is long, but very satisfying and beneficial.

I have attended a few of these courses myself. If anyone has any questions, or needs a bit more encouragement to go, please feel free to email me.

Anne Martin

8th January 201617th February 2021

Welcome 2016 4th January

On Monday 4th January (even before the local schools went back) 9 branch members attended the first branch practice of the year at Bicester.

The latest edition of Odd Bob and a list of 2016 branch practices was handed out to the towers present (not all packs having been prepared ahead of the practice.. much to Jeremy’s chagrin). With 6 ringers present before 7:40pm (very encouraging!) we started by ringing up the back 6 (knowing that a few extra ringers were due to come so 8 was a possibility!). We rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Hannah attempting the bobs.. some coaxing from the conductor was required, but we got through it and talked about it afterwards ahead of another attempt to be made later.

Someone suggested they hadn’t rung Stedman Doubles for ages.. well.. a quick look around the room suggested we had a (out of practice) band that could ring it so whilst that was looked up we rang up the front 4 and then rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. After some “negotiating” as to who would ring which bell we attempted Stedman.. first attempt didn’t work, but second attempt got through to the end and the third attempt was much better. Fay then mentioned that “in years gone by” we rang Stedman Triples at Bicester practices.. so there is a challenge for the branch folk this year.. to ring a course of Stedman Triples before 2016 ends! Watch this space as they say.

Next we rang some (shaky at first) plain hunt on 7 and then plain hunt on 8, both of which improved the more courses we did.

Another touch of Plain Bob Doubles for Hannah (still with a little guidance) was followed by more plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. For our finale we rang one course of Plain Bob Minor as requested by Ian, before ringing down the back 8 in peal… not too badly (not going to mention the “up”).

A good start to 2016 and a challenge to focus our minds in the coming months! Next event is the special practice at Islip on Tues 19th Jan – Plain Bob Minor and Winchendon Place Doubles (St Simons with places everywhere instead of all the dodges!) – see Winchendon Place for the line!

Anthony Cole

3rd December 201517th February 2021

Last 2015 BP December 2015

On Wednesday 2nd December 7 ringers (mostly from Charlton on Otmoor) banded together for the last branch practice of 2015 at Charlton on Otmoor.

After a rather rough ring up in peal we rang call changes for Rachel (well done!) – afterwards we had a discussion on how to work out which bell to follow if you the bells below you swap and if you head down.

Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and then (after a break and chat) some more Grandsire Doubles with Rachel on the treble (and Willy beside).. sadly that didn’t go too well, but then Rachel had only covered to plain hunt before! We swapped around and Rachel stood beside Willy whilst we rang again, talking her through it though I suspect quite a bit went over her head (session with the whiteboard required soon methinks). Rachel left for her (kept quiet until that point) birthday party! We rang plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles to finish and then after a reasonable ring down headed for the pub across the road (like you do at Charlton!)

Last event of the year is on a couple of weeks – Monday 14th Dec at Bicester.. with mince pies and sausage rolls if I get my act together in time! See lots of you there soon hopefully.

Anthony Cole

17th November 201517th February 2021

Bicester doubles and triples 17 November 2015

On Monday 16th November Bicester hosted a special practice and 10 ringers from 4 towers came along to try something a little above their regular tower methods – the methods for the evening were St Simon’s and St Martin’s Doubles and Plain Bob Triples.

After a quick go for a ringer returning from 21 years absence from ringing we rang up all the bells and started with rounds on the front six which turned into call changes as Del’s handling and memory of ringing was returning fast!

Next we rang plain hunt on 7 (well done Samuel and Anne) followed by a successful touch of St Simon’s Doubles. Rounds and call changes on 8 followed and then a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Anne on a working bell – bobs and singles this time!

And now for something harder… plain courses of Plain Bob Triples .. after a wobbly first attempt for a few ringers, the second attempt was successful (well done Samuel on the Treble) and the third attempt was similarly successful (well done Anne on the Treble).

We finished with some St Simon’s and St Martin’s spliced (no bobs!) to give everyone the idea of what was involved – there was plenty of enthusiasm for trying the other two methods another day (St Osmund and Eynesbury) – all four share the same back work, differing only in the front work made before and after making seconds around the treble. It makes it a little more difficult but it is easier than it sounds once you have a go at it!

Thanks to some experienced help from Ludgershall it was a really useful and progress filled practice so thanks to the Haseldine’s and well done everyone else!

Next branch event is the branch practice at Charlton on Otmoor on Wed 2nd December – look forward to seeing lots of you there 😀

Anthony Cole

7th November 201517th February 2021

Belter at Bletchingdon 7 November 2015

On Wednesday 4th Nov 18 ringers descended on Bletchingdon for the November branch practice.

After ringing up (best glossed over) we rang 3 lots of call changes for the two new learners from Kirtlington and one from Yarnton before moving on to plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. After more call changes we changed to plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles. More call changes and then we finished with a touch of Grandsire Doubles (bobs only) with Anne on an affected bell (following being taught it on the Steeple Aston course) and she did fine earning herself some well deserved applause from those watching.

The evening saw big improvements from the Kirtlington learners and progress from others too and Willie said it was the best branch practice of the year.

The next branch event is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 16th Nov – special methods being St Simon’s and St Martin’s Doubles and maybe Plain Bob Triples if we’re lucky. Hopefully see lots of ringers coming to admire our new carpet!

Anthony Cole

25th October 201517th February 2021

Steeple Aston course October 2015

On Sat 24th Oct students and helpers from across the Guild headed for Steeple Aston and ringing or teaching one of 5 methods.

The students were given a briefing before heading out to towers. I was there as a helper on the Grandsire Triples course so I headed for Steeple Aston Church. After sorting out lunch menu choices we rang a variation on plain hunt on 7 (Grandsire start though) and then progressed to plain courses of Grandsire Triples.
Lunch was at the Red Lion in Steeple Aston and was a chance for learners to get to know their helpers and vice versa.

Next we headed for Islip where Teresa was cajoled into ringing with us as an extra helper. We mainly rang plain courses but a few bobs and singles were introduced to some of the learners. We also had some dodging practice to help get the Grandsire dodges right.

Finally we headed for Kirtlington which were heavier and which posed a bit of a problem for one learner but they do sound lovely. More plain courses and then all students got to try out bobs and singles – an introduction for three and perfecting for two.

From my perspective as a helper I found it was a good day with progress made by our students which is always good to see. I also got to ring touches of Grandsire Triples which I’m sad to say is all too rare in the Bicester branch but a good refresher for me.

One branch member was on the Grandsire Doubles course so hoping to hear of lots of progress made and a step forward for future branch practices.

Anthony Cole

25th October 201517th February 2021

Islip not so special practice 20 October 2015

On Tues 20th October the branch headed to Islip for the special practice. Almost from the start it was clear we were not going to get Rev Canterbury Doubles or Plain Bob Minor!
We started with a few goes at rounds for the beginners.. Islip currently have 5! After the younger contingent went home we did manage a touch of Grandsire Doubles on the back 5 before heading to the pub for a short branch meeting.
A disappointing turnout but useful for the beginners never the less.
Next branch event is the branch practice on Wed 4th Nov so hope to see some of you there then.

Anthony Cole

9th October 201517th February 2021

Bicester bp 5th October 2015

On Monday 5th October 9 ringers from 4 branch towers banded together for the branch practice at Bicester.

After ringing up (hmm.. not our best) we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, followed by ringing up the back bells and trying some plain hunt on 7 – new for some! With a bit of coaxing we go through it so well done Jean.

We rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Jeremy calling to get in some practice before I get him to call a quarter peal… shame it fired out about 90 changes through. We rang more plain hunt on 7 and then a good touch of Plain Bob Minor. We rang more Grandsire Doubles before ringing down which was pretty good. Hopefully we’ll have our new carpet before you all next visit!

The next branch event is the special practice at Islip on Tues 20th Oct – Reverse Canterbury Doubles (Plain Bob Doubles with places instead of dodges) and Plain Bob Minor. See you all there!

Anthony Cole