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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Special Islip practice 21 July 2015

On Tuesday 21st July Islip hosted the July special practice. On the schedule was Grandsire Doubles and Kent TB Minor. 11 ringers came along from 4 branch towers (and one from outside the branch).

We started off with rounds and call changes for Rachel, then Laura had a lesson with Keith before some plain courses of Grandsire for Samuel. We then had more call changes and then tried treble bobbing to give Steve an idea of what to do on the treble and see if we might be up to ringing Kent.. sadly we struggled so Kent was not going to work, but Steve was getting the hang of the treble by the end. More lessons for Laura and then we rang a touch of Grandsire for Anne.

More call changes and another lesson for Laura (putting the handstroke and backstroke together) before ringing down. Have to say Rachel and Laura are making great progress so keep it up 😀

Sadly I had to get Samuel home, but the pub called to the other ringers.

The next event is the branch practice at Ludgershall on Fri 7th August – usually a good practice so do come along if you can.

Anthony Cole

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Ringing up and down course 2015

Here is Sally’s report on the branch ringing up and down course for 2015:

“A Ringing Up and Down Course was held at Bicester on 11th July led by Anthony Cole.

It was superbly organised with a low number of learners ringing and plenty of experienced ringers between us to practically keep us in check.

A very well worth while afternoon for all us learners and a leap in my progress. Thank you everone.

Sally Wale”

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Caversfield capabilities catapulted (July 2015)

Well it makes for a great headline anyway! On Friday 3rd July Caversfield hosted its first branch practice for many years and with a number of branch folk not having rung there it proved a good draw, with 13 branch members (from 6 towers), 1 learner, and 2 hangers on attending.

Having rung up in peal we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles (well done Sam on the treble), followed by some rounds for Claire. More plain courses of Grandsire Doubles followed (well done Amanda – first time ever inside, and hardly any prompting required – excellent:D ). We then had a short touch of Grandsire Doubles (almost there with the observation bell Anne!) with Simon watching. Some call changes were next followed by another touch of Grandsire Doubles (first Anne observation, then Simon – no mistakes Simon so singles next time!). More rounds for Claire – handling improving so well done. We then had a touch of Plain Bob Doubles before it was time to ring down.

A really useful practice for the Caversfield band – exactly what a branch practice is for – several firsts (that we cannot manage on our own yet, but having done it once, we can now start working on it ourselves) so thank you to all that attended.

The next branch event is the ringing up and down course on Saturday. Please take a look at the course notes beforehand if you are attending – see you in Bicester at 2pm .

The next practice is the special practice at Islip on Tues 21st July – Grandsire Doubles and Kent TB Minor if we get enough.. plus other things of course!

Please also start practising for the Branch Striking Competition – it is rapidly approaching – Sat 5th Sept at Islip (with BBQ)… reminds me I need to find a judge….

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Plain Bob at Islip June 2015

On Tuesday 16th June 6 branch members (from 3 towers), one former Islip ringer and 3 recruits attended St Nicholas in Islip for the special practice. The chosen methods for the evening were Plain Bob Doubles and Stedman Doubles.

The practice had started early for some handling tuition for the recruits and it was good to see one is starting plain hunt and the other is trying rounds. The third was on her very first visit up the tower so I hope to see her ringing by the time I visit next!

We started with rounds on the back 5 and then on the back 6.

Next we rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Becky watching for the first time what the treble had to do. We then rang some call changes on all 8 bells (another first for Becky).

We rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles to show the recruits something a little more advanced before more rounds with some hilarity about which Anthony to follow (Bibbings or Cole!). We finished with a fairly good ring down in peal on the back 6.

A visit to the Swan Inn followed (a traditional part of ringing in Islip!). A good evening, but a shame not to see a few more ringers coming along.

The next branch practice is at Caversfield on Fri 3rd July. I know some branch folk haven’t rung at Caversfield so do pop the date into your diaries and come and try out our lovely 5 bells.