Author: odg_bicuser1

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2012 Social & Striking competition

On Saturday 15th Sept Islip once again hosted the branch social and striking competition. I was keen that a tower team would win this year rather than the branch officers so it was with trepidation that I approached the evening and the number of teams that might turn up. I need not have worried as we had 4 tower teams (up from 2 last year) making for a good competition. Apart from Islip (which fielded a full local team), Bicester, Launton and Charlton teams were made of 50%+ tower members with a few extras to make up the team numbers – some who had not entered a competition before and whilst aprehensive beforehand, found it was actually quite good fun really. Islip rang first ringing Grandsire Doubles, followed by call changes from Launton. Bicester rang Plain Bob Doubles and Charlton rounded off the competition with some more call changes. The standard was very high and few trips were made by any of the teams for the judges (ably performed by Lorna and Brian Curtis from the Witney & Woodstock Branch) to separate us all by.

We all retired to Kathryn’s for a marvellous BBQ and drinks and a good chat. As usual, Kathryn, Teresa, Sally and their team of helpers had done us proud and we had our fill of the main course as day turned to night.

The results of the competition were announced before the puddings which were announced as follows:

4th place – Team B (Launton) – 51%
3rd place – Team A (Islip) – 52 %
2nd place – Team D (Charlton) – 68%
1st place – Team C (Bicester)– 80%.

Lorna presented Anthony & Jeremy with the trophy and champagne which the rest of the Bicester team shared in shortly afterwards. We also offered the champagne around to anyone else who wanted some!

It was a lovely evening with good friends and a little ringing to boot – thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to the next one 🙂

The competition winners
The competition winners
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Launton Branch Practice 3rd September 2012

As the holiday season comes to a close more ringers are around and so it proved at Launton on 3rd Sept when 14 ringers met to ring the lovely light six.

4 Launton ringers were helped by 2 from Bicester, 2 from Ludgershall, 2 from Islip, 3 from Charlton and one from Stratton to ring call changes, Grandsire Doubles plain courses (well done Elaine for ringing treble for first time in many years), a touch of Grandsire, and a rather shaky touch of Plain Bob Doubles. Ringing down was applauded by those stood outside so it must not have been too bad (or maybe they were glad we had finished). A lovely sunny evening of ringing at the smallest tower in the branch.

Next is the branch social in Islip on the 15th – tickets still available – contact Kathryn, Teresa or Anthony.

Anthony Cole

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Caversfield Doubles 20th August 2012

On Monday 20th August 6 ringers from the north end of the branch met for the first practice at Caversfield for many years. The methods we concentrated on were Plain Bob Doubles (rang superbly) and Stedman Doubles (technically a ‘principle’, not a ‘method’) which we had far more difficulty with (partly as one of our number was ringing Stedman Minimus!).. but eventually (and to Jane’s pleasure as that was her aim for the evening) we succeeded in ringing that a number of times without mistakes.

I would say it was nice to let the village hear Caversfield’s bells, but as the church is outside the village I shall have to settle for enjoying ringing the lovely 5 bells and that perhaps someone might have heard us.

Next practice is at cosy Launton on 4th Sep, and then we have the branch social, bbq and striking competition on Sat 15th Sep in Islip.. tickets available from Teresa, Kathryn or Anthony. If last year is anything to go by it will be a fun evening.. and let’s see if we can get a tower band to beat the branch officers who won last year 🙂

Anthony Cole

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Branch practice at Kirtlington 6 August 2012

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

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All the bells welcome the olympics

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

Group photo of all those who rang bells (or handbells) to welcome the olympics
Islip Olympic Ringers
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Bicester clapper caper

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!!

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Sarah interviewed on Radio Oxford

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 🙂

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Grand(sire) practice at Bletchingdon

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.

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Ringing for the olympic torch

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!

Steve and Fay