Author: odg_bicuser1

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September special practice

On Monday 19th Sept the special practice was attended by just the Bicester band, including one new ringer to the area. We rang Grandsire Doubles (plain courses and touches), Plain Bob Doubles (again plain courses and touches) and a touch of Stedman Doubles which we were very pleased with. A few trips in the methods, but that is why we practice 🙂

Next branch event is the Bicester branch practice on Mon 3rd Oct.. do come along and help the Ringing master celebrate his 40th birthday (the next day).. I think we may have to visit the pub afterwards!

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2011 Branch Social & Striking Competition Result

On Saturday 3rd September 2011 around 24 people (14 ringers and their families) gathered in Islip for the Branch Social and the first Branch Striking Competition for 7 years. Kathryn had kindly volunteered her house as the Social/BBQ venue so one by one the teams went to the tower whilst everyone else relaxed in Kathryn’s garden. Three teams competed for the trophy (and Champagne) expertly judged by Lorna Smale & Brian Curtis from the Witney & Woodstock branch. There was a good standard of ringing with few mistakes and their decisions were thus:

1st place: Team C (Branch Officers) with 73%
2nd place: Team A (Bicester) with 61%
3rd place: Team B (Islip) with 58%

Kathryn, Teresa and a team of (small) helpers had prepared and cooked a fabulous spread of food which we all enjoyed and had our fill, whilst enjoying each others company.

Special thanks to Kathryn for opening her home, Teresa & Kathryn for preparing food, and Lorna & Brian for judging our competition.

Anthony Cole (organiser)

Photos:

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PB Minor practice 16 August 2011

On Tuesday 16th August 9 ringers (7 from the Bicester Branch plus 2 from W&W) had an evening ringing Plain Bob Minor. It became a joke to say: “What shall we ring now?” .. “How about Plain Bob Minor!”. We rang plain courses, and touches with bobs and singles. A useful practice, but it did seem we got worse as the evening went on, rather than better!

Branch social is next on 3rd Sept (with Striking Competition).

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QP Congratulations

On Monday 15th August, Jan Smith rang her first quarter peal on an inside bell at Biceseter – Congratulations Jan!

The band were all Bicester Branch members, details thus:

Monday 15th August 2011
Bicester, Oxon
1260 Grandsire Doubles in 43 mins (front 6)
1. Jane Singleton
2. Jeremy Adams
3. Janet Smith (1st inside)
4. Steve Walker
5. Anthony Cole (c)
6. Graham Frogley

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Kirtlington 7

Friday 5th August was the Kirtlington branch practice. Unfortunately there isn’t a local band, but 7 branch members came over to remind the village that the church has a lovely set of bells, some dating back to the 1700s!

We rang Plain Bob Doubles & Grandsire Doubles. We then had a visit from some non-ringing who were staying in the hotel, heard the bells and came to investigate. We demonstrated with Plain Bob Minor and explained what we do – maybe they’ll be interested enough to go to their local towers when they get back to Kent and Australia!

We eventually managed a touch of Plain Bob Minor before successfully ringing a touch of Revere Canterbury Doubles which we having been working up to recently – satisfying to be making some progress – well done everyone 🙂

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Recent lull

The most recent Branch Practice (Stratton Audley) and Special Practice (Plain Bob and Grandsire Doubles at Bicester) have been poorly attended (3 and 4 people respectively). Whilst this is disappointing for those who turned up and were unable to ring, we must accept this is a voluntary hobby.

I would like to encourage ringing readers to come to Kirtlington on Friday 5th August – a lovely 8 that doesn’t get rung much these days as there isn’t a local band. Hopefully see many of you there – visitors very welcome!

Anthony Cole
Joint Ringing Master

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June Grandsire practice

What a good practice! 14 ringers turned up (mostly) primed to ring Grandsire Doubles & Triples. We had lots of plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples and then (in what must be a first for several years) a 168 change touch of Grandsire Triples! Also Jane tried the observation bell for Grandsire Doubles & Ernie tried the 2 for plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. We also rang plain hunt on 7. A useful teaching session that will hopefully move folk on a little and my thanks to all the helpers standing behind the less experienced ringers.