Category: Branch Practice

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.

Thirteen ringers from seven towers came to tonight’s branch practice at Caversfield, including a welcome to Linda and Hilary from Chesterton.
As expected, Bicester and Caversfield were well represented, with Steve, Diane, Graham, Faye, Helen and Celia, while we had our Ringing Masters Richard and Jeremy as well as Teresa and Kathryn from Islip.

After ringing up there were a number of plain courses of Grandsire doubles for Linda, Hilary and Helen inside, helped by Jeremy standing.

We had a touch of Reverse Canterbury for Teresa ringing observation, as well as touches of Plain Bob Doubles for Michael on observation.

We also managed a quite nicely struck touch of Stedman Doubles called by Richard, before a rare all-male band lowered in peal, finishing in Weasles.

Our final and Christmas Special practice is on 19th December at Kirtlington. Hope to see you then! Please let us know in advance if you aim to come to the apres bell social event afterwards.

Eleven ringers came to tonight’s practice at Stratton Audley, where we complimented Jeremy on the new paintwork in the ringing chamber.

We welcomed Simon Cole back from Norfolk, visiting family in Oxfordshire.

After ringing up we started with a touch of Grandsire Doubles called by Richard, with Judith on the 3, fully affected.

Next we rang rounds with Lisa and Julie, two recent recruits from the Stratton team, then a touch of Reverse Canterbury, with Anne, Jeremy, Simon and Richard, followed by a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Judith trebling.

After a touch of Grandsire with Anne, Jeremy, Teresa and Simon, we rang more rounds, then a nicely struck touch of Stedman, with Graham, Jeremy, Simon and Jan called by Richard, finishing with a touch of Plain Bob Doubles then a lower in peal led by Graham, chiming in weasels.

We took the obligatory team photo with those who stayed behind.

Next Branch Practice is on 6th December at Caversfield, another 5-bell tower.

Initially seven ringers were at the start of tonight’s branch practice at Bletchingdon, a select group of regulars with Kathryn our Branch Secretary in attendance. Having rung up all six followed by a few courses of Plain Hunt doubles called by Julie and then Grandsire doubles called by Sue, we might have thought that would have been all the band for the night.
However, at that point we were joined by Emma, Laurence and Graham, which enabled us to focus on getting quality time ringing touches of Grandsire, Plain Bob and Stedman for our team to practice trebling, tenoring and inside with standers as required.

Sally and Julie got at least three touches of Grandsire and Plain Bob to cover and treble to, Judith rang inside affected to two touches of Grandsire, trebled to another touch and tenored to Grandsire and Stedman touches.

Christine rang unaffected on 3 and 4 to two touches of Grandsire doubles, gaining in fluency, while Sue trebled to touches and had one touch inside half-hunt.
We attempted a touch of Stedman with Kathryn and Graham inside, which got over halfway before firing out, before time sadly ran out and we had to ring down and take the obligatory team photo near the wonderful Remembrance display (see if you can spot Kathryn, who was excellent at hiding at the back).

A really good practice, with a lot of ”prime rings” achieved. We are certainly ready for first quarter peals for some of our ringers, I think.

An amazing fifteen ringers came to tonight’s branch practice at Woodeaton, the first practice there for several years. Perhaps it was the rarity of the location that drew such large numbers for a “grab” .Our number included a full complement of the Lee family, accompanying Colin, our steward, and ringing master Jeremy.

It was good to see a strong contingent of Islip ringers, including Sally , Sue, Kathryn, Teresa, James, Dinah and Marcus. Also great to see Celia from Bicester.

After ringing up we rang call changes for Dinah, Marcus and two Lee children, followed by some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with James inside and Sue trebling. Next we rang a touch of Grandsire doubles for Judith to treble to, called by Colin, followed by more Grandsire and a touch of plain Bob doubles for Simon inside and Judith trebling.

Next we rang a plain course of Winchendon Place and a touch of Reverse Canterbury doubles for Kathryn finishing with a set of call changes for our less experienced ringers and a lower in peal led by Celia, before a group photo next to Baa Baa.

A really nice practice, which would have been even more perfect if we had a pub garden to sit in afterwards.

On the longest day thirteen ringers went to the branch practice at Bicester, where after raising the bells we rang a number of courses of plain hunt on nine, followed by call changes on ten, then some plain courses of Grandsire doubles on the front six.

After some plain hunt on five on the front six a touch of Grandsire doubles was attempted, followed by some better struck plain hunt on five on the back six, with the team appreciating the weightier bells.

A reasonably struck short touch of Grandsire triples was completed, followed by more call changes on ten, a bobbed course of plain Bob triples called by Emma, then well struck courses of plain hunt on seven, finishing with lowering the back eight.

Another full programme!

the next branch practice is on Wednesday 6th July at Launton. See you there!

Eleven ringers from seven towers came to tonight’s branch practice at Middleton Stoney. The weather was playing tricks, with blazing sunshine originally forecast, then heavy downpours from 7pm, but at Middleton the sun came out and a rainbow was spotted!

It was good to see Colin, our steward and his son Simon. After ringing up we had some plain hunt and plain courses of Grandsire to get used to the bells. We took a short break to give Philip and another from Middleton a first go at ringing. Graham called a touch of plain Bob doubles and Steve a touch of Grandsire doubles for Julie to treble to. There was no stopping Simon who put himself inside the the Bob doubles band, although a few words were had with dad!

After a touch of Bob minor called by Colin, we had another break for handling, then more Grandsire for Christine to ring no. 2 to. After a couple of attempts to ring a touch of Stedman Doubles we settled for a plain course before lowering.

Team photo time at the end in the beautiful surroundings. Next branch practice is Tuesday 21st June at Bicester. See you there!

Steve Vickars