Category: Branch Practice

Fifteen members of the Bicester Branch came to the October practice at Islip – some for the first time. Bolstering the home team, where we’re lucky enough to have three teenagers learning to ring (and doing well), we were able to ring a touch of Grandsire Doubles (shout out to Leandro Shaw who managed this with aplomb!).

We rang call changes and Reverse Canterbury too – what a difference it makes to everyone to get together occasionally.

Thank you to all the visitors – look out for the next BP on Friday 8 November at Ludgershall.

Twelve came to Thursday’s Branch Practice at Charlton-on-Otmoor, from five different towers. Gareth and Angie were delighted to have a practice as the Charlton band has become depleted recently.

We rang a varied assortment giving everyone a chance to try something a little bit more testing or within their ‘comfort zone’. Despite a heavyish tenor the bells go very well  and many commented on how good Branch Practices are for trying new towers within a supportive group.

The next Branch Practice is at Brill on Monday 23 September at 7.30pm, with the Striking Competition and BBQ at Islip from 6pm onwards on Saturday 21 September. Do try to come to both.

Twelve ringers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Weston, which had a strong turnout of six from the local band. Anne, Michael, Michael, Kathryn, Judith and myself from other towers.

We rang a number of rounds and call changes, kaleidoscope long places and Switcheroo for Michael, Tracy, Pam and Gilly. We also rang a number of courses of plain hunt with Tracy on five and Michael on three, as well as Plain Hunt on six, Grandsire Doubles (plain courses and a touch), Plain Bob Doubles for our more experienced ringers. 

Good trebling by Mandy to Plain Bob Doubles and Andy stepped in to ring three to Grandsire Doubles.

Finally, a lower of six led down by Gerald, finishing in rounds.

We took the obligatory photo at the end, but unfortunately failed to take it before Anne and Michael M had made their escape!

Next Branch Practice is at Piddington in two weeks time.

Steve Vickars

Fifteen ringers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Bletchingdon, run by Ringing Master Jeremy Adams with Kathryn and Teresa in attendance.

We also welcomed two more Stratton Audley ringers: Linda and Julie for their first visit to Bletchingdon. John also came, and benefitted from the several sets of rounds rung for Linda and Julie, getting used to the five and the tenor.

We rang several plain courses of Bob Doubles for Vikki, Barbara, Christine and Andy inside and for Charlie trebling, as well as a nice touch with Julie affected on the three and also an attempted touch for Christine unaffected on the four.

We also rang nice touches of Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Minor with Kay, Jeremy, Graham, Kathryn and Teresa.

Finally we had some nicely struck Plain Hunt on 5, for Charlie and Christine, even after swapping the bells around, before a nice lower on six, with Vikki, Christine, Julie and Andy in the band. We then got the chance to take the obligatory team photo.

A really nice practice. The next Branch Practice should be on 6th December at Charlton-on-Otmoor (providing they can open the trap door to the ringing chamber!).

Steve Vickars

Fourteen ringers came to Thursday’s Branch Practice at Weston, where our branch officers were out in force, including President Jeremy Adams, Vice President Teresa Carter, Secretary Kathryn, Ringing Master Richard Haseldine and Treasurer Anne Martin. The large numbers meant that several had to stand on the stairs when not ringing.

After ringing up the back four we rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Gerald and Diane inside, with Nick trebling, followed by rounds and call changes for Pinda, Tracey and Pam, assisted by Andrew and Gerald.

Andy rang four observation to a touch of Plain Bob Doubles and Mandy rang three to a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Doubles.

After more rounds and call changes Richard called touches of Stedman Doubles and Bob Minor and the Weston team practiced several courses of Plain Hunt on five, before we lowered all six.

Best of luck to those going on the Branch Outing this Saturday as well as to those going on the Radley Course!

Next Branch Practice will be at Piddington on the 3rd of May.

This morning Kirtlington played host to eighteen ringers from Oxford, Witney&Woodstock, Banbury and Bicester Branches to the Oxford City Easter Branch Practice, with ringers looking to get back into the swing of things after Holy Week.

Only the front three needed raising so we quickly got to ringing several plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles for Julie, Christine, Evadne and Sue. Vikki also tenored nicely behind.

Julie rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles unaffected, while Sally trebled to a plain course and touch of Bob Doubles.

We then rang some courses of Plain Hunt on Seven with Vikki inside (a first Plain Hunt on Seven), then a plain course of Plain Bob Triples for Ruth, to which Christine tenored behind.

For Ala we rang a few plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, followed by a plain course of Cambridge Minor, which settled down after a few leads.

For our more experienced ringers we rang a plain course of Stedman Triples as well as a plain course of Plain Bob Major at the end before we lowered on eight. Below is the obligatory team photo.

To note that this Thursday 13th April Weston on-the-Green will be hosting the next Bicester Branch practice. Hope to see you there!

Seventeen ringers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Kirtlington, led by Richard, Branch Ringing Master with Teresa in attendance.

We raised the front six and then the back two, followed by a set of rounds and call changes on eight.

Lots of our ringers tonight wanted to practice Plain Bob Doubles so we obliged with a starting touch, with Judith, Celia, Jan and Ruth inside and Sally on treble, Dan covering.

Next we rang a number of plain courses of bob doubles, giving Sue C, Sue M, Dan and Christine turns inside.

After more rounds and call changes for Michael, we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor, followed by plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Sue, Barbara and Sally. Julie and Mandy took turns to ring covering tenor.

We also rang Plain Hunt on six with two bands, giving Sally, Judith, Ruth, Dan, Sue and Sue turns inside, followed by Plain Hunt on seven, with Christine covering on tenor. We finished with a reasonable lower on eight and the obligatory team photo.

Another full practice, thank you everyone!

Estimates put it that we had as many as 21 ringers at last night’s Branch Practice at Bicester, with two recent recruits attending only their 2nd practice.

We kicked off with attempted rounds and call changes on ten, which challenged us to keep a closer gap between the bells.

Next a touch of Bob Doubles on the back six, with Judith affected, which went well.

After more rounds for less experienced ringers we attempted Plain Hunt on seven, which was quite challenging for some.
Sally tenored to three consecutive plain courses of Grandsire, with nice striking at the end.
Sue rang treble to a set of rounds and call changes, while Mandy covered nicely to a touch of Grandsire Doubles, called by Jeremy.

At Gerald’s request we returned to call changes on ten, which went rather better, before we rang a plain course of Grandsire Triples, called by Steve W, with Gerald ringing tenor behind for the first time to a triples method. Well done, Gerald!

Finally we lowered the back eight in peal, with Judith and Gerald in the band, finishing in Queens.

The next branch practice is at Kirtlington on Monday 20th March. See you then!

An incredible eighteen ringers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Islip, where we were joined by Guild Master Katie Lane and a strong showing from Bicester, including first visits by Diane, Pinda and Aimee. We also welcomed Celia, Anne and Graham.

As we had quite a few needing to acclimatise to different bells and surroundings we rang a fair number of rounds and call changes. It was great to see Pinda and then Aimee become familiar with their bell.

We rang a number of plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, called by Kathryn and Teresa for Sue on four and Diane on Treble and James also in the team. We also got in two touches of Plain Bob Doubles for Judith to practice being affected, the second touch achieved without a stander, so great progress. A plain course of Bob Minor was squeezed in before several of our ringers needed to head off home on the icy roads.

Celia led our lower on six, which had a nice chimed finish. A good practice, with quite a few ringers getting their prime ring in. Next Branch Practice is at Ambrosden on the 8th February, so I hope we get a good turnout there

Eight ringers from five towers came to tonight’s branch practice at Weston on the Green. We were joined by Diane, Anne and Jeremy, branch ringing master, with the Weston Four hosting proceedings.

After ringing up we rang a number of courses of Plain Hunt on Five, followed by some Grandsire Doubles, with Mandy on 3 and Nick tenoring. Next some Grandsire Doubles and plain hunt for Nick to treble to.

We managed a couple of passable plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles, with Gerald inside, Mandy on treble and Andrew tenoring, which must mark a first for some time that Weston ringers have made up at least half a band for Bob Doubles in their own tower!

Next we got Nick trebling to Churchyard Bob, with its helpful coursing order (2-3-4-5), which Nick was getting the hang of, with Diane joining in on the two.

By popular demand we rang Switcheroo, a Weston favourite and we upped the ante by switching automatically between rounds and backwards rounds every handstroke.

Finally after a photo opportunity we rang a set of call changes, moving Nick from 5th to lead position, taking in Queens and Kings, before we lowered in peal.

A good practice, with several getting a prime ring. The next branch practice is on the 24th January at Islip.