Author: Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice 8th January 2019 at Bicester

Twenty-two ringers from nine towers and three branches attended tonight’s first Branch Practice of 2019 at Bicester. Officers of Branch and Guild were well represented, with Ringing Master, Deputy Ringing Master and Secretary; we were also honoured to welcome Katie Lane our Guild Ringing Master, as well as Colin, our area Steward plus four other experienced ringers from Adderbury, who are currently having work on their tower.

We started with rounds and call changes on nine, including Gus, Sue, Fay and Chris, followed by Plain Hunt on 7, for Sue and a first for Gus.

With a very capable group of ringers we were able to practice a number of touches of Plain Bob Triples with Kathryn, Ellie, Ian and Jan, a nice touch of Stedman Triples, called by Richard, as well as plain courses of Plain Bob Major and Plain Bob Caters (nine working bells).

For Ann and Ellie we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor and we also had time to return to Plain Hunt on 7 for Gus, Sue and Anne, before ringing down the back eight in peal.

Sadly this was Ellie’s last Branch Practice with us before she moves up to Yorkshire. Best of luck to you, Ellie! Come back and ring with us again soon!

Next Branch Practice is on Thursday 7th February at Weston on the Green. Hope you can come and support the new band of ringers there.

Happy New Year to you all!

Steve Vickars

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Christmas Quarter Peal 27th December 2018

Six ringers from Bicester Branch, including our Ringing Master, Deputy Ringing Master, Secretary, Jan and Ellie successfully completed a quarter peal of Plain Bob Minor, conducted by Richard on Thursday evening, at Islip, to celebrate the Christmas period. Congratulations to Kathryn for her first minor quarter inside.

For further details, see the record  on Bellboard at: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1264282

As well as being a Christmas quarter peal, this was also dedicated to Gill and Tony Summerfield’s upcoming 53rd wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them both!

The Quarter Peal band
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Branch Special Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington 17th December 2018

Branch Special Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington 17th December

A very impressive nineteen ringers plus a very young future ringer – Rowan – turned out for Monday’s last Branch Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington last night, followed by our Christmas social, superbly hosted by Caroline , ably assisted by Louise who made a very welcome return.
The ringers came from eight different towers, including Andy and Gerald from Weston, Will and Abbie (with Rowan) from Ambrosden, Richard, Jan, Kathryn , Sue , Rosemarie and Brenda , plus our regular Kirtlington and Bletchingdon ringers.

We rang a number of sets of call changes, including a set with Charlie leading, plus a go at “putting out the fire” at Brenda’s request. For the more experienced ringers we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor, Will trebling.
As seasonal light relief we tried “Jingle Bells” on the front five, which was “interesting”.
For Sue we rang Plain Hunt on 5 and at Andy and Gerald’s request we rang reducing rounds and then a couple of goes of Churchyard Bob as introduction to Plain Hunt on 5.

Back at Caroline’s we enjoyed a fine selection of party food from the village shop, mulled wine and other beverages, then by popular demand, a medley of popular Christmas Carols on the hand bells, some parts being recognisable.

Video footage  taken by Brenda and Judith reliving the experiences and distinctive hand bell ringing is on the Facebook group post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/492630490929740/?multi_permalinks=984724781720306&notif_id=1545130403269643&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic.

That concludes ringing at Kirtlington for 2018, but there is practice at Bletchingdon on 19th December, and ringing for Bletchingdon carol service on 23rd. Islip will be ringing in the New Year on 31st January (contact Kathryn for details) and I intend to get a band for ringing at Kirtlington on 1st January 12 pm. The next Branch Practice will be at 7.30pm on 8th January at Bicester. Hope to see lots of you there!

Thank you for your support and great progress by so many this year. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, ringing New Year!

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Branch Practice 6th December 2018 at Charlton on Otmoor

Eight ringers from six towers came to tonight’s Penultimate Branch Practice of 2018 at Charlton on Otmoor, including a warm welcome to Charles and Joyce Morrish from Old North Berks Branch as well as Jeremy our Ringing Master and Teresa. We were also joined by el Presidente Willie Haynes.

After ringing up, the team rang some plain courses of Bob Doubles, then plain courses of Bob Minor with Ann and Teresa inside.

We then rang a 100 –  change touch of Bob Doubles with Stephen on four, successfully completing it at the second attempt.

More Plain Bob Doubles, with Gareth ringing observation on 5, with Jeremy standing and then a touch of Grandsire Doubles, with Gareth on Treble, which went reasonably.

We then rang  a touch of Plain Bob Minor with Ann, Joyce and Jeremy inside, called by Charles, which also went quite well.

Finally we rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Gareth ringing half-hunt on 5, your correspondent standing and calling, before we rang down in peal. A pretty good practice with plenty for everyone.

Don’t forget that the final Branch Practice is on 17th December at Kirtlington, including festive food, drink and handbells at a local ringer’s house after the shortened practice. Hope to see lots of you there!

Also please note that places at the teaching handling course at Kirtlington on 16th February are filling up fast, so do get your applications in quickly!

Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice 7th November 2018 at Bletchingdon

A numerous eighteen ringers from seven towers and three branches encompassing a wide range of experience, came to Wednesday’s Branch Practice at Bletchingdon,.

For two of the branch’s recent recruits: Sally Cross and Jane we rang Full Pull and Stand, Reducing Rounds, Call Changes and Kaleidoscope, practicing for some of the ringing activities this coming weekend. We saw some good Full Pull and Stand and call changes, while for the Reducing Rounds exercise there were some slightly over-eager ringers on the lighter bells, but one to practice in the future.

We rang Plain Hunt on 5 and Plain Courses of Grandsire Doubles for Sue Carter, Rosemarie, Rosemary, Ernie, Hilary and Jean. Some reasonable striking was achieved, especially as a number of ringers had little experience of ringing the method on their bell.

With a view to upcoming Quarter Peals, we rang touches of Plain Bob Doubles for Sue M, Judith and Ann. Nora and Tim also rang inside and Rosemarie trebled to one of the touches, assisted by Kathryn. A further touch of Grandsire was attempted with Ann, Diana, Kathryn and Jeremy inside, Sally Wale trebling.

We finally rang down in peal, a number of our ringers showing progress also with that.

A busy weekend for most if not all ringers is coming up with the Ringing Remembers and Ring Out for Peace commemorations. The very best of luck to all involved.

Steve Vickars

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Special Practice 16 October 2018, Islip

Eleven ringers from five towers attended tonight’s Special Practice at Islip, including our Ringing Master, Deputy Ringing Master, Vice President and your correspondent. Our Branch Secretary was unfortunately missing owing to a social engagement.

we were also joined by Keith, Sally, Sue, Ricky and Roffa, who joined in ringing rounds and call changes on 8.

Sue and Sally rang Plain Hunt on 6, Sally also ringing treble to Plain Bob Minor, while Sue also trebled to a touch of Grandsire Doubles called by Jeremy.

The band managed a number of reasonably struck touches of Bob Minor and Reverse Canterbury, called by Richard, with the highlight of the evening being a nicely struck touch of “Clifford’s Pleasure” (Reverse Canterbury with Grandsire Singles) chosen by Jan, with Jan’s father who often rang this, in a photo looking over the proceedings. It would be nice to imagine him approving of the band’s efforts.

Next Branch Practice is at Bletchingdon, on Wednesday 7th November, before the big Ringing Remembers weekend of 11th November.

Steve Vickars

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Bicester ringer achieves national milestone

In September, Bicester Branch’s  Ellie Seddon, from Kirtlington tower,  became the 100th ringer to achieve Level 5 in the Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) Learning the Ropes scheme, which she completed in less than two years after her first lesson. For this, Ellie needed to complete a number of theory and practical targets, including ringing inside to Quarter Peals in two Doubles methods and also Bob Minor. Congratulations, Ellie!

This has been celebrated on the ART website and Facebook page, for further details, see

http://ringingteachers.org/news/articles/learning-ropes-our-milestone-ringers.

 

A photo of Ellie receiving her certificate is below.

 

Ellie receiving her ART LTR Level 5 certificate
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Special Practice Monday 17th September 2018, Kirtlington

There was a good turnout of thirteen ringers at Monday’s Special Practice at Kirtlington, including Judith and Tim who rang some good touches of Plain Bob Doubles, Tim on observation bell.

It was good to welcome James, Hugh, Judy and Benjamin, from Marston, Ron, Jeremy, Kathryn, Sally Wale and Freddie.

Rosemarie gained some good experience trebling to Bob Doubles and Ringing the 2 to Grandsire Doubles, as well as covering to Bob Doubles on the 6, adjusting to the springy new rope. A more experienced team also successfully completed a touch of Grandsire Doubles.

Sally rang some plain courses of Bob Doubles on the 2.
As we had numbers we rang a couple of courses of Grandsire Triples, including James and Kathryn, also including an attempted touch, as well as an attempted plain course of Kent Minor requested by Kathryn.

After an attempted short touch of Bob Minor we rang some Plain Hunt on 7, before ringing down.

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Bicester Branch Striking Competition 01/09/2018

Twenty five people, including ringers and non-ringers attended this year’s striking competition, hosted by Kathryn and the Islip ringers at Islip, within easy earshot of the tower. It was good to see so many current and former ringers as well as friends of the branch there.

While only two towers – Ludgershall and Islip – could bring teams composed of their own ringers, in the end five separate teams were mustered, including a “harlequin” team, a ladies’ and a gentlemen’s team.

First up were Islip, who after their one minute of rounds rang 120 changes of call changes. They scored a total of 60 points.

Next to ring were Ludgershall, last year’s winners, who rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles for their piece, scoring  41 Points.

The Harlequin scratch team rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles, scoring 73 points.

The ladies’ team, which included three branch officers did somewhat better, ringing three plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, scoring 64 points.

Finally, the gentlemen’s team, led by Richard and also comprising a number of Branch officers, rang a touch of Plain bob Doubles, scoring 28 points and winning the trophy.

It is interesting to note that the formation of ladies’ and gentlemen’s teams seemed to bring out a previously undetected amount of competitive, although friendly, spirit amongst some of the participants.

During and after the competition there was a fine selection of barbecued food, salads, puddings and drinks on offer in Kathryn’s garden. A big thank you to Fifi for “manning” the barbecue.

Thanks should also be made to Willie, our president, for timekeeping in the tower and of course to Philip Curtis, who expertly judged the teams’ efforts.

Detailed results are included below.

Team E (Gentlemen) 8 + 20 = 28
Team B (Ludgershall) 8 + 33 = 41
Team A (Islip) 13 + 47 = 60
Team D (Ladies) 14 + 50 = 64
Team C (Harlequin) 13 +60 = 73

Key: First number is for the rounds and 2nd number for everything after.

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Branch Practice 6th July 2018 at Caversfield

Eight ringers from four towers attended last night’s branch practice at Caversfield where we also welcomed back Anthony Cole, Sarah and Sam Cole from Bicester Branch’s Scottish outpost, making a flying visit to the area.

We rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Jean, Simon, Judith, Ellie and Jane, then plain courses of bob doubles.

As our band had been strengthened somewhat by our Scottish exiles, we were able to ring a number of well-struck touches of Grandsire, one with Ellie Seddon inside, Plain Bob Doubles with Judith Vickars at 3 and Ellie on 4, and plain courses of Reverse Canterbury doubles.

Our final method was a couple of courses of St Simon’s bob doubles, which improved as we went on.

Great to see the Coles’ again. We learn that a mini-ring of 8 is on order for installation at their house in Forres. Perhaps an idea for a future Branch outing, I think?

the team at Caversfield