Category: Branch Practice

Friday 5th August was the Kirtlington branch practice. Unfortunately there isn’t a local band, but 7 branch members came over to remind the village that the church has a lovely set of bells, some dating back to the 1700s!

We rang Plain Bob Doubles & Grandsire Doubles. We then had a visit from some non-ringing who were staying in the hotel, heard the bells and came to investigate. We demonstrated with Plain Bob Minor and explained what we do – maybe they’ll be interested enough to go to their local towers when they get back to Kent and Australia!

We eventually managed a touch of Plain Bob Minor before successfully ringing a touch of Revere Canterbury Doubles which we having been working up to recently – satisfying to be making some progress – well done everyone 🙂

On a lovely sunny evening in Middleton Park the Branch Practice at Middleton Stoney came as a surprise to the local band who had not realised it was a branch practice, but together with 10 ringers from 4 other branch towers we rang lots of plain hunt, Grandsire Doubles, Plain Bob Minor and Reverse Canterbury.

Due to a clash with something on in the church the May Triples practice at Bicester was reluctantly cancelled. We were only told less than 3 hours before the practice but we did contact as many as we could, so hope that no-one made a wasted trip.

In place of it (with just a select few Bicester ringers) we held an impromptu handbell practice in Caversfield, ringing tunes and attempting plain hunt on 6 (more practice required!!). Whilst we were all very rusty, fun was had by all (plus a few beers helped the evening along) 🙂

13 ringers from 7 towers met at Islip on Tuesday evening for the Branch Practice. Ringing focused on plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles, and call changes on 8, but we did manage plain courses of Grandsire Triples, and Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Bob Doubles – we shall perhaps try the bobs in Reverse Canterbury next month – Kathryn admitted she knew them so just need couple more to learn them 🙂 Visitors from Yarnton noted at the end that it was a very useful practice for them.

11 members turned out to Brill on Monday 4th April for the Branch Practice. 6 towers were represented. We rang rounds, plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, a touch of Plain Bob Doubles, and a couple of plain courses of Plain Bob Minor. The bells caught a few ringers out, but sounded really nice. Unfortunately there was a little mishap at the end as we set up – pride and one stay hurt, but nothing that cannot be fixed. Looking forward to the Branch Outing on Saturday.

On Friday 4th March Ambrosden hosted a Branch Practice. The bells hadn’t been rung for some time (there is currently only one ringer), but 9 members of the branch (from 5 branch towers) met together to remind the locals there are bells. The vicar popped in on his way home – he had said to his wife earlier that evening that he missed hearing the bells, and arrived home to hear us ringing 🙂

We rang call changes on 6 and 8, Plain Bob Doubles, Grandsire Doubles and plain courses of Reverse Canterbury (following a request).