10 ringers from 5 towers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Kirtlington, including Helen for some more practice at ringing up and down, very close now to raising and lowering all by herself.
We welcomed Rosemarie from Bletchingdon/Yarnton to her first experience at ringing Kirtlington’s bells, and benefitted from the experience of el presidente William Haynes, Tim Hillsdon, Teresa and Sue Carter from Islip, Stephen Cameron, Derek and Judith.
On tonight’s menu was Plain Hunt and Grandsire Doubles.
Derek, Rosemarie and Sue took turns ringing treble or 2 to Plain Hunt on 5, Derek taking a turn also at tenor.
After some call changes, called down by Teresa for Helen, we had some excellent cake and biscuits (left over from yesterday’s focussed practice), then progressed to ringing plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, Sue, Rosemarie and Derek taking turns to treble. All did very creditable striking. Well done!
After an attempted touch of Plain Bob Doubles, we did some Kaleidoscope dodging practice for Helen, Sue and Derek, before giving Sue, Rosemarie and Derek turns at ringing Plain Hunt on 6. Again, some very acceptable striking.
Another good practice, many thanks again to tonight’s helpers.
A very big thank you to Pat and Robert Newton, Neil Ephgrave, Michael and Alison from Witney and Woodstock Branch and Hugh from Oxford City and Kathryn ( who kept the secret that like myself, this would be her first Quarter to a Triples method) for helping ring a successful Quarter Peal at Kirtlington yesterday to commemorate the tercentenary of our 3 oldest bells.
I had been intending to have a Quarter Peal rung with local ringers this year when I found out that the 3 oldest bells were cast in 1718. This also coincides with the first recorded Peal of Grandsire Triples rung in the same year. So when I attended the Radley Course in April this year, the method had to be Grandsire Triples.
We completed the quarter despite a couple of “moments” where I tried to dodge off the wrong stroke, but was guided back into the right place.
It was even appreciated by villagers and visitors to the afternoon service, such that 5 youngsters asked to see the bells after the service and to have a go.
The band for the Grandsire Triples Quarter Peal at Kirtlington
Five ringers from four towers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Piddington, where we were met by Morwen, one of the Piddington ringers, who helped us ring up, but wanted the visitors to demonstrate their prowess.
We started with an aborted attempt of Grandsire Doubles, followed by a successful touch of Plain Bob Doubles. Next a couple of plain courses of Stedman, improving in the second course, before we returned to a successful touch of Grandsire, called by Jeremy.
For variety, we then rang a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, Anne unaffected, before a final successful touch of Grandsire and ringing down, with Morwen on 2.
A really big thank you to all the helpers from four different branches who came to the focused practice at Bletchingdon this afternoon,organised and run by Alison Merryweather-Clarke.
This really benefitted six students, including Judith Vickars, Ellie Seddon, Sue Macready, Sue Carter, Immi (having just completed a Quarter Peal) and myself, who often wouldn’t get the chance to practice their favoured method with a such strong band. The reward for the helpers was a selection of cakes, brownies and biscuits (baked by the students ) with cups of tea and coffee.
Sue C consolidated her ringing of Plain Hunt Doubles and tried different bells. Sue M rang a few plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles, and then completed a couple of touches unaffected on 3. Judith rang two unaffected touches of PBD on 3, then progressed to a 60 blow touch. Well done! Immi rang some touches affected of Plain bob Doubles, trebled to Bob Minor then inside to a touch of bob Minor. Ellie rang a number of different touches of Bob Minor.
Also a big thank you to Jane from Iffley, who stood with several students and gave very helpful guidance during the touches.
Several helpers and students commented afterwards on how valuable this session was.
This year’s spring outing was to 5 towers in the Old North Berks branch, where I grew up (although I only had rung at two of these before the outing).
On a fine spring morning 11 Ringers from Bicester, Oxford City and Witney & Woodstock branches gathered at St Peters, Drayton near Abingdon, a light ring of 8 bells with strong sound control, where the walls of the Ringing chamber are covered with many Peal boards, several commemorating peals rung by clergymen, as well as peal conductor John Pladdy’s 1000th Peal. First up, we had a plain course of Grandsire Triples , followed by Andy calling changes on 8. We then rang a plain course of Plain Bob Triples, before ambitiously attempting a plain course of Plain Bob Major for Elizabeth. We rang Plain Hunt on 7 for Sue, then attempted a touch of Grandsire Triples before ringing down.
Next tower was St Blaise, Milton, another light ring of 8, but preferred by most as we could clearly hear all the bells. More Grandsire Triples here, including a successful touch, Ellie trebling, called by Hugh, plus Bob Triples, Plain Hunt on 7 and a touch of Plain Bob Minor for Ellie and Andy.
The ringers at Milton
We repaired for lunch at the Cherry Tree, Steventon, before our 3rd tower, St Michael Steventon (11 cwt), at the far end of the village, reached via a level crossing. We were joined by Jan and Richard Haseldine, Bicester deputy Ringing Master and by Malcolm and Clare Fairbairn. Many of the group found the 6 bells the most challenging, due to the long draught and “flighty “ ropes. However, we rang plain courses of Cambridge and Stedman, a plain course and a touch of Bob Minor and attempted another plain course of Cambridge as well as several courses of Plain Hunt on 5.
Onto St James the Great, West Hanney, my very first tower and a “stately” ring of 6, tenor 18 cwt. We were welcomed by Michael, a local ringer, who joined us in an attempted plain course of Cambridge. Further touches of Plain Bob Minor and one of Grandsire Doubles successfully completed, we rang more Plain Hunt on 5 then my first touch of Stedman, assisted by Hugh.
Our final tower was All Saints Marcham, a fairly light ring of 6, but anti-clockwise, which caught a few out, including myself. This was compensated by the very clear ringing circle.
A successful touch of St Clements Minor, more touches of Bob Minor and Grandsire Doubles plus a plain course of Stedman and our day was complete.
At a showery evening showery four ringers at a time gathered for the April Branch Practice at Stratton Audley. Perhaps it was the combination of inclement weather, a much publicised UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match, or the challenging bells at Stratton Audley (not so challenging as some might have you believe), that numbers were low.
The first shift included our Ringing and Deputy Ringing Masters, Ann Martin and Alison from Stratton Audley, ringing Plain Hunt for Alison. I joined the group just before Alison went home. We then proved that even four can have fun at methods by firstly ringing a few plain courses of Plain Bob Minimus and then Stedman on four (Treble hunting up, making 6 blows behind, down to lead again; the other three bells do the front work, followed by 6 blows behind), with everyone having at least one turn on a working bell.
Good luck to Ann and Ellie who will be going on the Radley course Saturday 7th to do Plain Bob Minor.
Our next event is the Branch Outing on 21st April, starting at 10am at Drayton. Hope to see you then!
Twelve ringers from eight towers and three Branches braved the flooded roads to attend Easter Monday morning’s Branch Practice at Kirtlington. Although slightly down on strength from January’s practice at the same venue, we still benefitted from the conducting skills of Hugh, Paul and Malcolm.
We rang an extensive repertoire of methods including:
A couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples
An attempted plain course of Plain Bob Major
A few courses of Plain Bob Triples for Andrew
Two touches of Grandsire Triples, including one for the correspondent
A few touches of Plain Bob Minor for Andrew
A couple of plain courses of Stedman Triples including a first go for yours truly.
13 ringers from 7 towers and 3 branches attended last night’s Special Practice at Bletchingdon. First up, we concluded Rory’s handling session with him ringing rounds and call changes in the team. Well done Rory.
Next we rang some plain courses of Grandsire doubles for Jean, Hilary and Ann, followed by a few plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles for Judith and Sue. For Brenda, Derek and Rosemarie we rang a number of courses of Plain Hunt on 5, emphasising places. All did well.
After a touch of Grandsire involving Ann, Jan, Jeremy, covered by Brenda and called by Richard, we attempted a touch of Plain Bob Minor, but unfortunately weren’t quite strong enough.
With Brenda, Derek, Ernie and Rosemarie in the band we rang Kaleidoscope Mexican Wave, each dodging with the neighbouring bell.
Finally we rang a few plain courses of Bob Doubles with Sue and Judith inside, as well as another few courses of Grandsire for Jean, Hilary and Tim.
Next Branch Practice is at Stratton Audley on 4th April. Hope to see lots of you there.
14 ringers from 8 towers attended the ringing practice following the Branch AGM on 5th March, including Colin, our area ODG steward.
After ringing up the back 8, at Helen’s request we rang call changes and Plain Hunt on 9, tenor covering.
After a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples we turned our attention to a number of plain courses and touches of doubles, comprising:
Two courses of Plain Bob Doubles, clearly called by Ellie, ringing from 2
Plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Helen.
Plain Courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, with Stephen on 5
Getting more ambitious, we started a touch of Reverse St Bartholomew Doubles (plain courses are same as Grandsire Doubles Singles, Bobs cause a Plain Bob lead end). However, the band was thrown into confusion by the bobs (the work occurs immediately after the bob), so some more theory work is needed here.
Finally, we rang some more Plain Hunt Caters, before ringing down the back 8, finishing quite nicely.
Hope to see lots of you at the Special Practice at Bletchingdon on 14th March.
