odg_bicuser1 – Page 6 – The Bicester Branch

14th December 2013

100th birthday

On Saturday 13th December 1913 ringers from Bicester and the surrounding area formed the Bicester Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers.

On Friday 13th December 2013 the Bicester Branch celebrated its 100th birthday so it was only right that we mark the occasion in the way bellringers do – with some ringing! Due to the proximity to Christmas many many many of the Bicester Branch ringers were busy, but eventually a band was formed with all ringers living within the Bicester area and a quarter peal of mixed Doubles was rung at Bicester.

Oxford Diocesan Guild
Bicester, Oxon
St Edburg
Friday 13 December 2013 in 46 mins on front 6
1260 Doubles: 780 Grandsire, 480 Plain Bob
1 Jane Singleton
2 Sarah Cole
3 Philip Curtis
4 Jeremy Adams
5 Anthony Cole (C)
6 Ian Smart
Rung to celebrate the centenary of the formation of the Bicester Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers.

Special congratulations to Ian Smart on accomplishing his first quarter peal.

14th December 2013

More ringing on the moor

On Wednesday 4th December Charlton on Otmoor hosted the December branch practice. It was a slow start, but over the course of the evening 8 branch ringers arrived, and those that needed to be bowed into the room were duly welcomed.

We started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before trying a touch with Ann ringing observation -not at all bad for a first go at it Ann 🙂

We rang Plain hunt and more Grandsire and then call changes followed by a theory session on how calling “up” changes rather than “down” works. Finally we tried a plain course of Plain Bob Minor.. A little scrappy if I’m honest, but we got there.

No visit to Charlton is complete without a visit to the pub..which has been refitted since I was last there.. Very smart inside now!

Last branch event of the year will be the special practice at Bicester on Mon 16th December.. Mince Pies for those who turn up ;9

19th November 2013

By Royal appointment

Tuesday 19th November was Islip’s turn to host the special practice. The set methods were Grandsire Triples and Single Oxford Bob Triples. Whilst we had seven ringers sadly the set methods were not going to happen.

We started with Grandsire Doubles plain courses and then plain courses of Plain Bob Minor. After more plain courses of Grandsire Doubles we tried a touch, but this proved beyond the band.

We rang down and caught in Queens in tribute to one of the Islip band who was unable to attend as she was having nibbles with HRH at Buckingham Palace. Please remember to doff your cap, curtsey or bow next time you see her!

The next branch event is the branch practice at Charlton on Otmoor on Wednesday 4th December..can it be December already? Anyway hopefully see you there (don’t forget to bow or curtsey! )

17th November 201317th February 2021

Big Bob?

This years Guild 10 bell striking competition is a set touch of Plain Bob Royal. The Banbury Branch team came to Bicester on Friday 15th November to practice ahead of the competition on Sat 23rd November. As not all their band was able to make the practice I joined them filling in for one of the absent ringers.

Once we rang up we rang half a course of Cambridge Surprise Major until the remaining 2 ringers arrived (most annoyingly I missed a 3-4 dodge! Obviously don’t ring Cambridge Major often enough anymore!).

The competition piece uses a combination of “bobs” and “big bobs” – what is a “big bob” I hear you say? Well, a normal “bob” is a 4ths place bob (i.e. one bell makes 4ths as the treble leads, and the others work around that so 3-4d runs in, 2nd runs out, and 3-4 up makes 4ths, or “makes the bob” as it is called). The “big bob” is a 6ths place bob so the bells in 5-6 are also affected – 5-6down runs in, 5-6 up makes 6ths (“makes the bob”) and 3-4up runs out (instead of making 4ths):

All three attempts of the touch were successful (previous practices by the same team were apparently not so successful!) and it was certainly interesting both to be affected by the “big bobs” and also to hear all 10 Bicester bells rung for a change!

The next branch event is the special practice at Islip on Tuesday night – Grandsire Triples and Single Oxford Bob Triples if we get enough – I know of at least one person who is coming over specifically to try Single Oxford Bob Triples so do come along if you are able 🙂

12th November 2013

Some problem in Somerset

Accidents in bellringing are few and far between due to the care of those teaching, and the regular maintenance of the bells we ring. With 5000 ringable towers in England (approximately) and regular ringing I have heard of hardly any incidents in 30 years of ringing. However, accidents do (very very rarely) happen and the ringers of Kilmersdon in Somerset had had a close call on Tues 5th November when the gudgeon pin on the tenor sheared, sending the one-tonne bell into it’s pit. Unfortunately as it landed it pushed one side of the frame which it shared with the 5th bell shattering the 5ths bearing housings. The 5th fell through the belfry floor coming to rest on beams in the clock room/ringing chamber ceiling, but not before sending part of the wooden ceiling onto the ringing chamber floor. No-one was hurt in the incident except for someone triipping as they made their way (no doubt quickly) down the stairs. The bells were made safe by qualified bellhangers that evening and repair work is underway. For pictures refer to The Somerset Guardian

Please note this accident is very rare and should not put you off ringing! Gudgeon pins link the bearing and headstock so are very important and are made of a thick piece of metal. They are rarely looked at closely except during a rehang as they usually cannot be seen unless the bell is removed from the headstock.

10th November 2013

November branch practice

On Wednesday 6th November 9 ringers from 5 branch towers and 1 W&W tower banded together for the branch practice at Bletchingdon. We were met by the tower captain who didn’t ring due to a back injury (get well soon Sue), and our President came along to ring looking healthier than he has for a long time.. Glad to see you back ringing Willy 🙂

After ringing up we started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles (a favourite at Bletchingdon which is why we host so many Grandsire special practices there), and then we followed that with plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles. More Grandsire followed and a touch of Grandsire where Anne stood behind to make sense (hopefully) of the observation bell… Won’t be long before Anne will be showing us how that is done! We finished with more Grandsire Doubles before ringing down.

All in all a pleasant evening on some lovely bells. The next practice is the special practice at Islip on Tues 19th Nov – Grandsire Triples and Oxford Bob Triples. Not sure we will have the ringers to ring them, but we can at least try.

22nd October 20138th February 2021

Minor achievements 21st October 2013

On Monday 21st October Bicester played host to the October special practice. I have to admit following recent turnout I was not expecting much, but was I to be surprised! In total 9 ringers from 3 branch towers arrived and whilst Oxford TB Minor was unlikely we got close to having enough to ring it, but alas not quite.

We started with plain courses of Plain Bob Minor followed by a touch – a good start to the evening! We then rang Grandsire Doubles for Helen – getting there. We rang more plain courses of Plain Bob Minor with different people in and then another touch. With only 5 minutes left before Steve had to leave we decided to try something only I had rung before – Grandsire Minor – popular a century ago, but not so much these days – easy to ring though.. we had a shaky first course, but managed really well and by the 4th course it was faultless 🙂 Certainly didn’t expect to be ringing that on a practice night! Bobs and singles perhaps another time???

We finished with more Grandsire Doubles and down.

The turn-out far exceeded my expectations and made up (in part) for the lack of turn-out at the weekend’s outing. Lets hope the branch practice at Bletchingdon on 6th Nov is as well attended 🙂

Anthony Cole

19th October 20138th February 2021

October 2013 outing report

Saturday 19th October was the day of the rescheduled branch outing (following cancellation of the outing in March due to snow).

The first tower of the day was Brightwalton, Berkshire – a fairly light 6. Only 4 ringers had arrived by the start time so we rang up the back 4 and hoped we would have more ringers joining us later. We started plain hunt on 4 and then Kathryn, Anthony B and Sally arrived to boost our number. We rang up the treble and two and then proceeded to ring some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and call changes before our time was up.

Moving on to the next tower on some very countrified roads we arrived at Chieveley with my car sporting a punctured rear tyre…nice L shaped hole. Well that is what a spare is for though space saving ones aren’t that good really! After a rather continental style ring up of the back six we rang call changes and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles again. We then rang down and proceeded to the Hare And Hounds Hotel in Speen for lunch. I was supposed to have collected menu choices and phoned our order through, but the tyre fiasco had blocked it from my mind. Luckily with only 10 people to feed (seven ringers, one non-ringing husband, and two children) the food order didn’t take too long.

We next rang at the church in Speen – another six. We rang call changes and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles again.

Our final tower was the other side of Newbury – the ten of Thatcham (though we only rang the front six). These bells were the nicest bells of the day and we rang call changes and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles again. Before the end I had to leave to get my tyre fixed before the trip back to Bicester – a bit of googling had located a Kwik Fit in Newbury!

My thanks to Hilary, Anne, Kathryn, Sally, John and Anthony B for joining “Bicester Branch on tour”, for the villages for the use of their bells (and patience with our ringing up and down) and for the non-ringers (John, Samuel & Grace) who came to enjoy the day out and the pub lunch. Hopefully we can encourage more ringers to join us on future outings.

The next branch event is in just two days.. A special practice at Bicester on Monday night. Hopefully we will get enough ringers to ring Plain Bob Minor (and very unlikely Oxford TB Minor).

7th October 2013

Minimus

On Monday 7th October it was Bicester’s turn to host a branch practice. The turnout was worse than at Stratton Audley in July.. only 4 ringers. However we did ring….

We started chiming tunes (twinkle twinkle little star, oranges and lemons, kum by yah). We then decided to ring up which Anne did really well. We then progressed to Plain bob minimus. We failed at Stedman minimus and then rang more plain bob minimus before ringing down (again well done to Anne).

Having booked a baby sitter so Sarah and I could both go we weren’t going to miss out on the pub!

Next is the branch outing – please do support that and have a fun day out around Newbury. The next special practice is again at Bicester in two weeks time..hopefully we will get a better turnout then (Oxford bob minor and Plain bob minor).