of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers
For those as intrigued as me by the ringing of a big bell at the London 2012 opening ceremony, the bell is the largest harmonically tuned bell in the WORLD!!!! 27 tons in all, making it the biggest bell in the UK, surpassing Great Paul (16 tons) in St Paul’s Cathedral.
Videos of the making and installation of the big bell can be found on the following 3 links:
We had 8 ringers from 6 towers at the monthly Branch Practice at Kirtlington on 3 August.
It was great to see real progress made on the 2nd for Grandsire Doubles and on Plain Hunt for two of our newer recruits – and to be able to leave the bells up for a wedding the following day! I’d forgotten to bring along posters for the Branch BBQ on Saturday 15 September but have now produced tickets for everyone who wants to come!
Kathryn Grant, Branch Sec
On Fri 27th July, 8:12am all 10 bells at St Edburg’s, Bicester rang out (call changes) as part of the All the bells project to get all the bells in the country ringing to welcome the start of the Olympics. Some of the ringers children and a few others from the church came and rang handbells too . Even above the noise of the bells in the ringing chamber I could hear the handbells being rung downstairs/outside 🙂 Well done all those that took part!
Any other branch towers which took part like to share what they did? Add a comment if you did.
All 8 bells in Islip were chimed by the group below.
And Fringford bells were apparently rung too (Ed: must have been chimed only as not safe for full ringing!). There is also a You Tube video!!!! Check it out..
Fringford bells being chimed for the Olympics
Following Sarah’s heady heights of stardom on Radio Oxford the bells decided to bring her back down with a bump! The clapper on the 8th at Bicester fell out whilst we were ringing Grandsire Doubles (not Sarah’s favourite method to be fair).
The clapper had been repaired before (more than 12 years ago we believe) and the break this time at the top of the shaft was very close to the old break. Furthermore, on inspection the corrosion suggests it had been weakening for some time so Graham went over to Whites of Appleton this morning to purchase a new clapper and we will fit it tonight so we are still able to ring for the Olympics on Friday morning. Clockwork…. well it would be except the clock doesn’t strike any of the bells at Bicester!!
On Sunday 22nd July Sarah Cole was interviewed on Radio Oxford about her involvement in ringing for the Olympics as part of Martin Creed’s All the bells project which calls for all the bells in the country (tower bells, door bells, bicycle bells) to ring at 8:12am on Friday 27th July to announce the start of the Olympics.
As Sarah said, we don’t have enough ringers in Bicester and other towers have similar problems so if you’re interested in learning to ring then please go along to your local church and ask, or contact the Branch Ringing Master who will be more than happy to help, or put you in touch with the right person in your village. Ringing is great (gentle) exercise, and usually doesn’t cost anything except your time and is a very social hobby so why not go and try it out?
Well done Sarah 🙂
On Wed 18th July a massive 19 ringers came together from numerous towers and even from the neighbouring Oxford City Branch to make a concerted effort to learn Grandsire Doubles. I had really not expected such a huge turnout, but as a result I think we shall have to run more Grandsire Doubles practices!
We mainly rang plain courses with different learners in each time and in all cases ringing improved the more courses we rang. We also helped a few people trying to learn the Bobs & Singles, twisted Sue’s arm (and a couple of others) to have a go at the observation bell and set some homework for a couple of others to start looking at the observation bell so they can move up from ringing plain courses which they are now more than capable (if they do not loose their concentration!). We hardly stopped ringing, but with so many ringers there we had plenty of helpers to stand behind the learners (thank you all for helping out) and plenty of time for people to chat when they weren’t ringing so a fabulous night had by all – feeling quite tired now!
The next practice is the Branch Practice just up the road in Kirtlington (a lovely 8 with no local band so the village doesn’t hear their lovely bells that often). Do please come along and support that on Fri 3rd Aug.
Many thanks to the 7 ringers who turned out in Kirtlington as the Olympic torch was carried through the village on Monday 9 July. Michael and Louise came from Long Hanborough, supported by Keith from Wood Eaton, Willie from Charlton-on-Otmoor, and Ricky, Sally and Kathryn from Islip to ring Grandsire Doubles and call changes from 2.45pm to 3.45pm. Other ringers and friends were there to see the torch procession including Steve from Charlton who doubles as a Morris Man in his spare time and we all enjoyed the festive atmosphere on a semi-dry day!
Following last years failed attempt to hold a branch practice (only 3 ringers turned up) we were apprehensive about the turnout for this years attempt.
I started off playing the organ and Jeremy went outside to mow the churchyard grass, but no sooner than he had gone out 2 more ringers arrived. Having seen me on the organ they came to show me how to do it properly (!). One more ringer arrived then so we had to stop playing the organ and ring.
After an eventful ‘up’ we had several goes at Plain Hunt, making sure everyone moved to a different bell for each attempt – always a good idea so you don’t get used to just one bell. We then rang some call changes and more plain hunt before calling it a night. Stratton Audley only has 3 resident ringers so I wonder how many in the pub next door noticed two extra bells were ringing? The bells are not the easiest – you do have to pull them as they are on plain bearings (except the 4th), but you need some towers with more interesting handling to perfect your ringing technique. Anyway, nice to hear them all going.
Next practice is a Grandsire Doubles practice for Bletchingdon on 18th. Looks like I have to work, but will see if I can make it there before the end.
The chance for some slightly more advanced ringing brought people out on a lovely June evening to Islip. 12 ringers (from 6 towers) set our sights on Plain Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples. We succeeded in ringing touches of Plain Bob Minor (bobs and singles), plain hunt on 7 (and shaky hunt on 8), and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, and a first attempt at a touch of Grandsire Doubles (bobs only). A really useful and productive practice so well done everyone 🙂
Only a few of us visited the pub afterwards, though the Charlton crew were planning to go to the pub when they got back to Charlton so the driver could drink too :9
Next practice is on the lovely bells at Stratton Audley so I encourage everyone to join us on Thurs 5th July for that (and the pub is next door too)!
On Wed 6th June 12 ringers from 6 towers met for the Branch practice at Middleton Stoney.
We started with call changes where I confused the locals by calling up instead of calling down…a discussion of the relative merits of both ways followed 🙂
We then rang plain courses of Grandsire which the local band are working on. The tower captain then encouraged us to try something more advanced so she rang the treble to a touch of Plain bob minor – something she hadn’t rung for many years.
More call changes and some plain hunt on 5 – Ann obviously isn’t challenged enough by call changes any more and managed ok .. well done 🙂
We then had more plain courses of Grandsire with Jen ‘inside’.
At this point my mobile found a signal and went mad delivering 30+ text messages about a power cut at work – I left Jeremy to organise ringing ‘something’ and down whilst I hunted for a strong enough signal to make some calls.
As most of the branch officers were present we held a short business meeting at the end to discuss proposals for the rehanging of Oddington which have been unringable for many years – we decided to support the proposal by offering to cover 10% of the costs from branch funds.
Next practice is at Islip in 2 weeks so hope to see lots of ringers there.