Category: Article

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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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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
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Diamond Jubilee Ringing

A number of towers in the Bicester Branch have rung to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

At Bicester a quarter peal was rung:

Tues 5th June 2012
1260 Plain Bob Doubles in 45 mins (front 6)
1. Helen Parkinson (1st QP)
2. Janet Smith (1st PB Doubles)
3. Jane Singleton
4. Sarah Cole
5. Anthony Cole (c)
6. Jeremy Adams

Any other towers in the Bicester Branch wishing to add details of their ringing please add a comment.

Hopefully see a number of people at the Middleton Stoney Branch Practice tomorrow night.

Anthony

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St George’s Day challenge

As today is St George’s Day, I thought it would be fun to see if there is a method called St George’s, and to see how hard it would be to ring. There is one!! St George Bob Minor doesn’t look *too* difficult .. anyone fancy a challenge to ring this? The method can be found at St George Bob Minor

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2012 Outing Report

Bicester Branch outing. 2012

Our car outing to the Northamptonshire area started out colder than previous days. We were happy to be joined early on by a ringer from a neighbouring branch to ours, but during the first tower (Wappenham) we only just had enough to ring all the bells. The best bit about that first ring was the nice new balcony with a straight flight of stairs – the ropes were rather stretchy. I learned later that they don’t get rung very often.

The next ring was at Green’s Norton where we were glad to find the local coffee morning going on, and company for the three people with us who can’t ring. Another ring of six, so we continued with the usual Grandsire and Plain Bob, and also tried Stedman with the help of the local.

Lunch was at the Pub just down the hill, so we had our longest walk of the day. The children got served fairly quickly and even managed a pudding, but by the time all adults were finished their first course we had to race straight to the next tower. I don’t know if the one outing dog ever did get her lunch.

At Pattishall we were joined by two more ringers, meaning we would have enough for the 8 bell tower at the end. Here we rang Plain Bob and Grandsire again and the children had a good game of hunt the teddy and also a quick play at the local park.

If we were a bit late to the third tower it was nothing compared to the last one, owing to the church being completely hidden in a private estate. If a local tells you the church is signed ‘just through the next gate’ do not believe them! After many trips around the village, round the estate and through the stables we eventually found the church. The various local people different car loads spoke to all seemed very used to giving lost bell ringers directions. It was a lovely picturesque location and a nice light ring of eight, so we were glad to have just caught the keyholder. We had fun ringing … and chasing escaped lambs. After a group photo it was not too long a drive back home again.

Hope to see more ringers and kids next time.

Sarah Cole

See pictures from the outing

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Caversfield appears in print

The “Four Shires” magazine, January edition includes an article on bellringing. The article features Caversfield church and it’s old bell.

Note: Permission for reproduction of these scans has been granted by Four Shires and the author.

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Ringing for the 2012 Olympics?

Turner prize winner Martin Creed has proposed a national ringing of all bells at 8am on Friday 27th July 2012 to mark the launch of the Olympics.

This nationwide chorus is to be entitled “Work No 1197” and calls for “All the bells in a country rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes”. Given the shortage of ringers countrywide, a national recruitment campaign will be needed to cover all the 5000+ bell towers in the country. Anyone from the Bicester branch area (which covers towers south as far as Islip, and north up to Finmere) who would like to join us in this national event, please contact the Branch Ringing Master or your local bell tower and training will be provided (and of course we would love you to continue as a bellringer long after this event if you’re willing).

More details about this can be found at:

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Steeple Aston course 2011

The annual Steeple Aston course involved a number of towers in the Bicester branch on Sat 29th Oct. The 4 groups were learning different methods an Bicester hosted one of the Triples & Major teaching sessions. Given there are 10 bells at Bicester the tutors took the opportunity to ring plain hunt on 9, before ringing Plain Bob Triples, Grandsire Triples (including touches 🙂 ) and Plain Bob Major. Lovely to have some more advanced ringing, and give us something to aim for.

Charlton on Otmoor and Islip were also involved – anyone involved care to contribute a write up on those sessions too?