Author: odg_bicuser1

Posted on

Slow start for 2013

The branch practice at Bicester on Mon 7th Jan was a slow start to the year – we had 6 ringers from 2 towers; a ringer new to Bicester tower who has been ringing at the neighbouring tower of Marsh Gibbon joined us and given our small number our efforts focussed on helping him. After “up” we rang first call changes and then had a number of goes of Plain Bob Doubles with Arthur ringing tenor behind (not something he had done before) and he improved as the evening went on – well done Arthur 🙂

Next practice is next week at Islip – St Nicholas Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. Hopefully see more of you there 🙂

Anthony Cole

Posted on

Christmas special practice & social

On Monday 17th December 8 ringers from Bicester, Stratton Audley and Islip came together for the last branch event of the year – the special practice with Grandsire Doubles and Grandsire Triples on offer.

The practice started slowly, but the promise of sausage rolls and mince pies ensured we got the bells up! We rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles to start with. Our 8th ringer arrived, but sadly Grandsire Triples was not going to be. However, with 8 ringers we took the opportunity to ring some plain hunt on 7 and 8 before trying a festively named method “St Nicholas Doubles” – we stuck to plain courses, and despite hesitation beforehand we rang it well. We then rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Helen and then some more St Nicholas before ringing down.

As it was a social we then decamped to the pub for some festive cheer and chat :9

A good evening and a good way to finish off the year. I wish all my readers a Happy Christmas & a Happy New Year too – the first practice next year is not until 7th January (at Bicester) when we can start working off our Christmas indulgences.

Posted on

Next keep fit craze?

The BBC website today features an article about how good bellringing (Campanology) is for keeping fit. The bellringing population (at least in the Bicester area) is ageing, but I don’t mean that in a bad way – ringing is often possible well into your 70s and 80s and is a great way to keep yourself moving and I hope it helps me keep going just as long; it’s great for younger folk too – you don’t need to work out in a gym (and pay huge gym fees) when you can pop along to your local tower and get some free exercise (for your body and your mind!). Take a look at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20691056 and if you’re interested then either contact your local town/village church or contact me and I’ll teach you (if you are near Bicester) or put you in contact with someone nearer to you who can teach you.

Anthony Cole
webmaster@bicesterbranch.org.uk

Posted on

Warm reception on freezing Otmoor

On Wednesday 5th Dec 9 branch ringers (3 from Charlton, 2 Islip, 2 Launton, 1 Stratton, 1 Bicester) banded together on a freezing night for a Branch Practice on the lovely bells (and warm tower) of Charlton On Otmoor.

We started with some plain hunt following Anne’s recent attendance at the Steeple Aston course, and it was clear she was learning fast. We rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Anne watching the 2 and then Anne had a go at that – and was solid as a rock (unlike the ringers around her who made mistakes!) Great work Anne 🙂

Sally was persuaded to try the observation bell for a touch of Grandsire Doubles and by the end of the evening had managed that twice (with a little help from her friends).

Jean seemed uncertain with the treble to Grandsire, but proved more than able to ring it which was encouraging.

Mary had a go at plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and managed well too.

We had a go at a plain course of Plain Bob Minor which we eventually got through – not one of the things they are able to ring regularly so it was pleasing to get through it.

Our last ring was some plain hunting on 6 with a few ringers attempting it for the first time (Anne & Jean) – success once again!

Ringing down was not brilliant, but it was a practice night and Anne wasn’t confident. However, she was able to follow the treble down fairly well, getting back into place a couple of times which is a useful skill to perfect.

So, a thoroughly useful and enjoyable practice – my thanks to those who helped out too 🙂 The pub was equally warm and inviting afterwards before the trek back over the frozen moor.

Last practice of the year is at Bicester on Monday 17th December … with mince pies and sausage rolls if I can find some time to cook/shop. Looking forward to it 🙂

Posted on

Winchendon special

On Tuesday 20th November 6 branch members (4 towers) and a regular guest from Church Hanborough met at Islip for the special practice. The plan for the evening was Grandsire Triples and Winchendon Place Doubles, but it was clear from the off that we wouldn’t have enough for Grandsire Triples. However, with Sally working on Grandsire Doubles we were sure to get Grandsire in one form. We started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before ringing plain courses of Winchendon Place Doubles (St Simons with all dodges replaced by places, or St Nicholas with places on the front instead of dodges if you prefer!). We then persuaded Sally to try the observation bell for Grandsire Doubles – Teresa stood behind her and she managed it without too much correction – well done Sally. A different band then rang more plain courses of Winchendon Place before we retired to the pub for a well earned drink (and prawn crackers.. now that the Swan is a “Chinese” pub).

Once again a lovely evening with good friends – the next branch event is the Branch Practice at Charlton On Otmoor on Wed 5th Dec – hopefully see many of you there.

Posted on

BP @ Bletchingdon

On November 7th

12 ringers (from 6 towers) enjoyed another lively practice with progress made on Plain Hunt and Grandsire Doubles. Although we missed one of our Joint Ringing Masters (we sent sympathy since he was on a course with exams – at his age too! (Editor: Thanks Kathryn!!!)), Jeremy ensured that we all maintained the friendly, encouraging approach which is the hallmark of our Branch Practices.

The next practice for the branch is the special practice in Islip on 20th November – Grandsire Triples and Winchendon Place Doubles (if you can ring St Simon’s Doubles, you can ring Winchendon – see http://www.merseybells.co.uk/methods/winchendon-place-doubles for the line – or look in your copy of “Diagrams”).

Posted on

No Cambridge at Bicester

On Monday 15th October 7 ringers banded together for the special practice at Bicester – sadly no visitors to help us. The methods proposed for the evening were Plain Bob Minor and Cambridge Surprise Minor.

We started with some Grandsire Doubles and then Jan had her first go at Plain Bob Minor. We all nodded etc and with a bit of help we succeeded 🙂 We then had a go at Grandsire Doubles for Helen – counting out places for her as we went too see if we could help her understand places. A bit of theory was also done on the board and putting the blue line on its side seemed to make more sense so perhaps a bit of a break through.. time will tell.

We had another go at the Plain Bob Minor and Jan managed without  much help (though some of the more experienced ringers seemed to need some!).

It was obvious we weren’t going to get any Cambridge – never mind – a challenge for another day.

Next practice is at Bletchingdon on 7th November – a lovely ground floor 6 with very welcoming locals so put that in your diary and hopefully see you there 🙂

Posted on

Steeple Aston course 2012

The annual Steeple Aston course was held on Sat 13th October in towers across the Banbury, Bicester and Witney & Woodstock Branches of the ODG and the neighbouring Culworth Branch of the Peterborough Guild. This year there were 5 groups learning methods from Plain Hun Doubles to Grandsire and Plain Bob Triples.

Sarah & I had volunteered to help in the 8-bell group which was concentrating on Plain Bob Triples and Grandsire Triples. We started in Kirtlington and the helpers were asked to adopt a learner (5 in our group) who we were to stand behind and give advice when needed. It was a nervous start so we mainly stuck to plain courses at Kirtlington. Chris (the lady I was tutoring) hadn’t rung Plain Bob Triples before (she had been working on Plain Bob Doubles) so this would be quite a step up for her; Jeannie wanted practice at Plain Bob and Grandsire, but focused mostly on Grandsire; Butch, Veronica and Martin were learning Grandsire.

After a lovely lunch at the Red Cow in Chesteron we rang at Bicester. More helpers arrived and we tried some round on the 10 before we continued our practice on the back 8, increasing the complexity a little. Chris and Butch stuck to plain courses of Plain Bob Triples and Grandsire Triples respectively, and the other 3 started on basic touches of Grandsire. My learner Chris was gaining confidence and found Bicester bells a little easier to manage than Kirtlington which helped her concentrate on the method.

Onwards to Steeple Aston and their new tenor! More touches of Grandsire Triples (stretching my conducting skills too – too little practice calling Grandsire Triples 🙁 ) and plain coures of Plain Bob and Grandsire. All the learners were making great progress – Jeannie, Veronica and Martin were tackling touches of Grandsire (bobs only) with fewer mistakes; Burt and Chris were getting through Grandsire and Plain Bob with very little correction.

From a helpers perspective it was satisfying seeing our charges making progress, and from my perspective getting to ring touches of Grandsire Triples much of the day cleared out many many cobwebs.

As a thank you to the helpers we had half a course of Cambridge Surprise Major to end with … must be 5 years or more since I rang that (they had suggested Bristol Surprise, but the grey cells have let me down and I couldn’t remember it!)

The learners gained lots of experience and practice and seemed very pleased with their progress, and I had a days worth of ringing Triples  so I shall definitely offer to help again next year.

Learners – great work and do keep up the practice – I suspect a couple of you will be helping on the course in a few years. Good luck and hopefully see you in a tower soon 🙂

Posted on

Double Birthday Branch Practice

On Monday 1st Oct 9 ringers from 4 branch towers came to Bicester for the Branch Practice, and to celebrate Kathryn’s recent and Anthony’s pending birthdays.

We started in style on the front 6 with a touch of Plain Bob Minor then moved on to Grandsire Doubles (plain courses) before the Charlton duo arrived to bolster our number. We then rang up the back bells and rang Plain Hunt on 7 (well done Ali). We then pushed ourselves with some Kent TB Minor – 3rd time in the branch in as many weeks, and just as successful – Great stuff 🙂

With Steve off to work we then rang more Grandsire Doubles and Plain Hunt on 7 before finishing. Given the two birthdays a trip to the pub was definitely in order :9

Next practice is in two weeks (again in Bicester) – Cambridge Surprise Minor and Plain Bob Minor… we may need a little help with Cambridge so get those learning caps on 🙂

 

Posted on

Kent and Grandsire 20 September 2012

Following the Branch Social and Striking competition in Islip at the weekend on Tuesday 18th Sept 7 ringers returned to Islip this time for the branch special practice. The nominated methods for the evening were Kent TB Minor and Grandsire Triples.

The evening started off well with a successful course of Kent TB Minor – very satisfying. We then rang some plain courses of Grandsire, but not Triples as advertised – only Doubles for AnthonyB. A former learner then appeared having been persuaded to give it another go at the social and seemed to remember rope handling ok so a new ringer hopefully in the making.

We rang another course of Kent (slightly shaky this time towards the end, but we got to the end showing it was not a fluke) and finished with a touch of Grandsire Doubles with AnthonyB being guided by nods from the other ringers and Teresa whispering tips.

Having been expertly engraved by Keith the Clifford East Shield trophy for the Striking Competition was handed to AnthonyC for safe delivery and display in Bicester. We then retired to the Red Lion as the Swan was closed.

Another good evening of ringing and some good socialising too. Next up is the Branch Practice at Bicester on the 1st Oct – hopefully see a good number of ringers there.

Anthony Cole