of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers
Our Branch Outing, arranged by Richard Haseldine, took us to five towers in Northamptonshire – Staverton, Badby, Newnham, Flore and Greens Norton.
All were chosen for their easy going – and two with ground-floor rings (much appreciated).
Nineteen ringers, including two visiting ringers from Faringdon and Hanslope, from six Branch towers came – with two non-ringers and three dogs.
Again, there was something for everyone and we all enjoyed the ringing and each other’s company.
Those who came to this month’s BP (eleven ringers from six towers – Charlton, Stratton Audley, Islip, Ludgershall, Launton, and Bicester) had a great evening!
Richard and Jeremy make everyone feel welcome whatever their ability and willingness (or otherwise) to try something new. We rang call changes, Grandsire Doubles, Little Bob, Plain Bob Doubles and Minor with Stedman and Kent thrown in! And for those of us whose last memory of Louise Brown was seeing her at Willie Haynes’ funeral in Charlton two years ago, it was especially poignant to be there.
Do try to come to the next Branch Practice on Wednesday 28th May 2025 at Middleton Stoney.
Sixteen ringers from seven towers (Bicester, Ludgershall, Stratton Audley, Launton, Weston-on-the-Green, Kirtlington and Islip) came to the Branch Practice on 25th February at Islip where we rang something for everyone! That included plain hunt on eight, touches of Grandsire Doubles and plain courses, call changes and plenty of support for all.
It was good to see so many enjoying their ringing and we all look forward to our next BP (Weston-on-the-Green Thursday 27 March).
Forthcoming Branch Practices
Thursday March 27th. Weston-on-the-Green
Wednesday April 23rd. Charlton-on-Otmoor
Saturday April 26th. Branch outing
Wednesday May 28th. Middleton Stoney
Wednesday June 25th. Bletchingdon
Tuesday July 22nd. Caversfield
Wednesday August 27th. Launton
Monday September 22nd. Ambrosden
Friday October 24th. Ludgershall
Tuesday November 25th. Bicester
Monday December 15th. Kirtlington
Tuesday January 27th. Islip
Wednesday February 25th Stratton Audley
Fifteen members of the Bicester Branch came to the October practice at Islip – some for the first time. Bolstering the home team, where we’re lucky enough to have three teenagers learning to ring (and doing well), we were able to ring a touch of Grandsire Doubles (shout out to Leandro Shaw who managed this with aplomb!).
We rang call changes and Reverse Canterbury too – what a difference it makes to everyone to get together occasionally.
Thank you to all the visitors – look out for the next BP on Friday 8 November at Ludgershall.
Twelve came to Thursday’s Branch Practice at Charlton-on-Otmoor, from five different towers. Gareth and Angie were delighted to have a practice as the Charlton band has become depleted recently.
We rang a varied assortment giving everyone a chance to try something a little bit more testing or within their ‘comfort zone’. Despite a heavyish tenor the bells go very well and many commented on how good Branch Practices are for trying new towers within a supportive group.
The next Branch Practice is at Brill on Monday 23 September at 7.30pm, with the Striking Competition and BBQ at Islip from 6pm onwards on Saturday 21 September. Do try to come to both.
On Thursday 12 September at 7.30pm, at Islip Village Hall, come and hear the Launton Handbell Ringers (drawn from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Northamptonshire) who have given recitals in cathedrals, civic centres, theatres as well as on radio and television. Their repertoire includes traditional and folk music, popular classics, children’s nursery rhymes as well as secular music.
45-50 minutes of music and time for questions with the opportunity to have ‘a go’ at ringing 4 in hand!
Donations by cash or card – refreshments available too!
More details from Teresa Carter or Kathryn Grant
Eleven ringers from six towers came to Souldern on Thursday 25 July for a great practice on the six easy-going bells there (but sadly without a resident band).
We rang a range from rounds and call changes to Stedman and Bob Minor – literally something for everyone. Many thanks to Richard who was in charge and ensured all had a good evening.
The next BP will be in Caversfield on Tuesday 13 August – should be perfect for a summer evening!
On 27 April our branch outing was to five towers around the Lambourn area of Berkshire – some outings are memorable for their ringing achievements, others for a variety of others.
The 2024 Bicester outing was memorable for high level access to ringing chambers (see photo of Great Shefford), an anti-clockwise ring, great lunch, one of the longest draughts ever, and ringing with a broken stay (not caused by anyone on the outing).
We rang call changes, plain hunt, touches of Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Doubles as well as Plain Bob Minor. Our thanks go to Jeremy Adams, who organised the outing, and to those who opened the towers for us – and particularly Stefan in Lambourn who provided us all with coffee too!
Here’s the survivors’ photo!
This is the spiral staircase at St Mary, Great Shefford:
At last night’s BP twelve ringers from nine towers (including two visitors) came to ring at Ambrosden where a number of newer ringers are practising regularly on a Tuesday morning – contact Steve Walker for more details or Jill Colyer (Churchwarden jill.colyer12@gmail.com).
We rang a remarkable number of methods mostly on all 8 bells – Rounds and Plain Hunt, followed by Bob Major, Stedman Triples (tenor ably rung by Marcus) and the piece de resistance a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles when, teenagers, Marcus rung the 5th and William rang the treble! How good it is to see such enthusiasm and encouragement from the Branch for our youthful ringers.
Thank you to all who came and especially to Richard and Jeremy (suffering a bad back) for a great evening.
Kathryn