Category: Branch Practice

Half way through 2013 already, and Middleton Stoney hosted the June Branch Practice on Wed 5th – for the 3rd year running it was a beautiful sunny summer evening so those not ringing could sit outside and listen. We started very slowly with 2 learners (who had yet to handle a bell) and 5 others (1 Launton, 3 locals and myself) . We rang up 5 and gave the new recruits a demonstration of plain hunt on 5 before giving them tower safety instructions (don’t touch ropes as you cannot tell if they’re up or down!) and then letting them have a little go. Hopefully the next time I go Graham and Anita will be fully capable ringers.

More ringers (2 Islip, 3 Charlton) arrived at about 8:10pm enabling us to do much more of what a branch practice is about – helping teach the locals so they can make progress! We started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before moving on to Plain Bob Doubles as two of the locals had looked it up. A shaky start, but we got to the end of the course and ran through a few times with helpful hints from the conductor. More Grandsire Doubles and (really must get Anne on an inside bell soon!) and then multiple goes at Plain Bob Doubles for the locals again – they were getting it by the end 🙂

We finished with a well struck ring down (apart from the catch at the end!).

Next branch event is the Grandsire Doubles special practice at Bletchingdon so hoping to see lots of keen Grandsire enthusiasts & learners in 2 weeks time.

On Wed 1st May 10 ringers from around the branch (4 locals from Piddington, 1 from Bicester, 2 from Launton, 1 from Charlton on Otmoor, 1 from Ludgershall, 1 from Ambrosden) met at Piddington for the branch practice. Last years practice was a good fun meeting and this years (though with less locals) was no less an event.

We started off with call changes, followed by call changes , followed by call changes…. nothing wrong with call changes you understand – that is just what the locals tend to ring. The striking was mostly very good and loud 🙂 The conductors voice is always challenged here as there isn’t a “deadening chamber” between the bells and the ringers (usually taken up by a church clock). We did try some plain hunt with a couple of the locals joining in before more call changes. We did manage both Double Court Minimus and Double Canterbury Minimus through the course of the evening, but without the ringers knowledge as we rang the methods as call changes 🙂

Nosy that I am I went for a quick peek at the organ only for word to get around tht I was interested and a key was duly produced! I asked the ringers to ring something (to drown me out) whilst I had a go, but they finished before I did so they heard me and there was a little applause when I finished.. how embarrassing! Anyway, we finished with more call changes, but unlike last year, we did not venture to the pub this time as the village’s only pub closed last year 🙁

The next branch event is the special practice at Islip in 2 weeks time – Little Bob Minor (far easier than it sounds – plain hunt on 4 for the treble and essentially the treble from treble bobbing for the rest) and Grandsire Triples – hopefully we will get a lovely warm evening to encourage lots of ringers to come along – see you all soon!

On Fri 5th April the word had been spread that Ambrosden bells we to be rung for a branch practice so the village were expectant! Silence is golden as they say, and sadly that is what Ambrosden received as only 4 ringers turned up. However it was good to have a short chat with the only ringer in the village and it is encouraging that she is able to get practice elsewhere in the branch.

Those disappointed by the silence will at least be appeased today as there is both a visiting band and a wedding at Ambrosden when the bells will be rung.

The next branch event is the special practice at Bicester on Mon 15th April – Reverse Canterbury Doubles and St Clements Minor so hoping to see lots of keen ringers for that 🙂

On Tuesday 5th March 9 ringers (1 Launton, 3 Islip, 3 Bicester, 1 Stratton, 1 Woodeaton) went along to Islip for the Branch practice.

We started off with plain hunt on 7 which Anne did really well with 🙂 We then pushed ourselves and rang a couple of courses of Grandsire Triples! (First time in the branch for a while). We then moved on to Grandsire Doubles with Sally ringing the observation bell.. would have been better if the conductor hadn’t thought he was ringing a different bell (how embarrassing – sorry Teresa!) … thanks to Sarah the mistake was discovered and the next attempt was successful.

We rang more plain hunt on 7 (Anne on a different bell) and again Anne did really well. We had another couple of courses of Grandsire Triples with different ringers inside and finished with a course of Stedman Doubles.

All trips to Islip require some apres-ring (if there is such a term) so we headed off to the Swan for some drinks and prawn crackers :9

Next branch event is the special practice (Grandsire Doubles) in Bletchingdon, shortly followed by the branch outing – looking forward to them both 🙂

“PLO” you say? Palestine Liberation Organisation?? Err.. no. In days gone by when I went on ringing weeks a “PLO” was a “Potential Lock Out” and Friday 1st Feb was one of those. 7 ringers met at Kirtlington with instructions that we should get the key from the church warden as the tower correspondent was away. Unfortunately when I visted the church wardens house she was not at home either! We stood by the church gates and chatted (whilst some rapid phone calls were made), and were just about to give up and go to the pub (or home) when we spotted a car arrive in the churchwardens drive. Success!! We then had a key 🙂

With not enough to ring all eight bells we elected to ring the front six (not quite in key, but didn’t sound too bad). We rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, some plain hunt on five, a touch of Plain Bob Doubles, and finished with a short touch of Grandsire Doubles with Sally “observation” – didn’t quite get to the end, but it wasn’t Sally’s fault.

A good evening, but a few more ringers would have made it better. Well done all those who came out (especially Willy who wasn’t really fit to ring – we all really hope Willy will be back fighting fit very soon).

Next practice is the special practice at Bicester on 18th Feb – Plain Bob Major and Stedman Doubles, shortly followed by our Branch AGM on Saturday 23rd Feb.

The branch practice at Bicester on Mon 7th Jan was a slow start to the year – we had 6 ringers from 2 towers; a ringer new to Bicester tower who has been ringing at the neighbouring tower of Marsh Gibbon joined us and given our small number our efforts focussed on helping him. After “up” we rang first call changes and then had a number of goes of Plain Bob Doubles with Arthur ringing tenor behind (not something he had done before) and he improved as the evening went on – well done Arthur 🙂

Next practice is next week at Islip – St Nicholas Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. Hopefully see more of you there 🙂

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 5th Dec 9 branch ringers (3 from Charlton, 2 Islip, 2 Launton, 1 Stratton, 1 Bicester) banded together on a freezing night for a Branch Practice on the lovely bells (and warm tower) of Charlton On Otmoor.

We started with some plain hunt following Anne’s recent attendance at the Steeple Aston course, and it was clear she was learning fast. We rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Anne watching the 2 and then Anne had a go at that – and was solid as a rock (unlike the ringers around her who made mistakes!) Great work Anne 🙂

Sally was persuaded to try the observation bell for a touch of Grandsire Doubles and by the end of the evening had managed that twice (with a little help from her friends).

Jean seemed uncertain with the treble to Grandsire, but proved more than able to ring it which was encouraging.

Mary had a go at plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and managed well too.

We had a go at a plain course of Plain Bob Minor which we eventually got through – not one of the things they are able to ring regularly so it was pleasing to get through it.

Our last ring was some plain hunting on 6 with a few ringers attempting it for the first time (Anne & Jean) – success once again!

Ringing down was not brilliant, but it was a practice night and Anne wasn’t confident. However, she was able to follow the treble down fairly well, getting back into place a couple of times which is a useful skill to perfect.

So, a thoroughly useful and enjoyable practice – my thanks to those who helped out too 🙂 The pub was equally warm and inviting afterwards before the trek back over the frozen moor.

Last practice of the year is at Bicester on Monday 17th December … with mince pies and sausage rolls if I can find some time to cook/shop. Looking forward to it 🙂

On November 7th

12 ringers (from 6 towers) enjoyed another lively practice with progress made on Plain Hunt and Grandsire Doubles. Although we missed one of our Joint Ringing Masters (we sent sympathy since he was on a course with exams – at his age too! (Editor: Thanks Kathryn!!!)), Jeremy ensured that we all maintained the friendly, encouraging approach which is the hallmark of our Branch Practices.

The next practice for the branch is the special practice in Islip on 20th November – Grandsire Triples and Winchendon Place Doubles (if you can ring St Simon’s Doubles, you can ring Winchendon – see http://www.merseybells.co.uk/methods/winchendon-place-doubles for the line – or look in your copy of “Diagrams”).

On Monday 1st Oct 9 ringers from 4 branch towers came to Bicester for the Branch Practice, and to celebrate Kathryn’s recent and Anthony’s pending birthdays.

We started in style on the front 6 with a touch of Plain Bob Minor then moved on to Grandsire Doubles (plain courses) before the Charlton duo arrived to bolster our number. We then rang up the back bells and rang Plain Hunt on 7 (well done Ali). We then pushed ourselves with some Kent TB Minor – 3rd time in the branch in as many weeks, and just as successful – Great stuff 🙂

With Steve off to work we then rang more Grandsire Doubles and Plain Hunt on 7 before finishing. Given the two birthdays a trip to the pub was definitely in order :9

Next practice is in two weeks (again in Bicester) – Cambridge Surprise Minor and Plain Bob Minor… we may need a little help with Cambridge so get those learning caps on 🙂

 

As the holiday season comes to a close more ringers are around and so it proved at Launton on 3rd Sept when 14 ringers met to ring the lovely light six.

4 Launton ringers were helped by 2 from Bicester, 2 from Ludgershall, 2 from Islip, 3 from Charlton and one from Stratton to ring call changes, Grandsire Doubles plain courses (well done Elaine for ringing treble for first time in many years), a touch of Grandsire, and a rather shaky touch of Plain Bob Doubles. Ringing down was applauded by those stood outside so it must not have been too bad (or maybe they were glad we had finished). A lovely sunny evening of ringing at the smallest tower in the branch.

Next is the branch social in Islip on the 15th – tickets still available – contact Kathryn, Teresa or Anthony.

Anthony Cole