Category: Branch Practice

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Branch Special Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington 17th December 2018

Branch Special Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington 17th December

A very impressive nineteen ringers plus a very young future ringer – Rowan – turned out for Monday’s last Branch Practice and Christmas Social at Kirtlington last night, followed by our Christmas social, superbly hosted by Caroline , ably assisted by Louise who made a very welcome return.
The ringers came from eight different towers, including Andy and Gerald from Weston, Will and Abbie (with Rowan) from Ambrosden, Richard, Jan, Kathryn , Sue , Rosemarie and Brenda , plus our regular Kirtlington and Bletchingdon ringers.

We rang a number of sets of call changes, including a set with Charlie leading, plus a go at “putting out the fire” at Brenda’s request. For the more experienced ringers we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor, Will trebling.
As seasonal light relief we tried “Jingle Bells” on the front five, which was “interesting”.
For Sue we rang Plain Hunt on 5 and at Andy and Gerald’s request we rang reducing rounds and then a couple of goes of Churchyard Bob as introduction to Plain Hunt on 5.

Back at Caroline’s we enjoyed a fine selection of party food from the village shop, mulled wine and other beverages, then by popular demand, a medley of popular Christmas Carols on the hand bells, some parts being recognisable.

Video footage  taken by Brenda and Judith reliving the experiences and distinctive hand bell ringing is on the Facebook group post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/492630490929740/?multi_permalinks=984724781720306&notif_id=1545130403269643&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic.

That concludes ringing at Kirtlington for 2018, but there is practice at Bletchingdon on 19th December, and ringing for Bletchingdon carol service on 23rd. Islip will be ringing in the New Year on 31st January (contact Kathryn for details) and I intend to get a band for ringing at Kirtlington on 1st January 12 pm. The next Branch Practice will be at 7.30pm on 8th January at Bicester. Hope to see lots of you there!

Thank you for your support and great progress by so many this year. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, ringing New Year!

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Branch Practice 6th December 2018 at Charlton on Otmoor

Eight ringers from six towers came to tonight’s Penultimate Branch Practice of 2018 at Charlton on Otmoor, including a warm welcome to Charles and Joyce Morrish from Old North Berks Branch as well as Jeremy our Ringing Master and Teresa. We were also joined by el Presidente Willie Haynes.

After ringing up, the team rang some plain courses of Bob Doubles, then plain courses of Bob Minor with Ann and Teresa inside.

We then rang a 100 –  change touch of Bob Doubles with Stephen on four, successfully completing it at the second attempt.

More Plain Bob Doubles, with Gareth ringing observation on 5, with Jeremy standing and then a touch of Grandsire Doubles, with Gareth on Treble, which went reasonably.

We then rang  a touch of Plain Bob Minor with Ann, Joyce and Jeremy inside, called by Charles, which also went quite well.

Finally we rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Gareth ringing half-hunt on 5, your correspondent standing and calling, before we rang down in peal. A pretty good practice with plenty for everyone.

Don’t forget that the final Branch Practice is on 17th December at Kirtlington, including festive food, drink and handbells at a local ringer’s house after the shortened practice. Hope to see lots of you there!

Also please note that places at the teaching handling course at Kirtlington on 16th February are filling up fast, so do get your applications in quickly!

Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice 7th November 2018 at Bletchingdon

A numerous eighteen ringers from seven towers and three branches encompassing a wide range of experience, came to Wednesday’s Branch Practice at Bletchingdon,.

For two of the branch’s recent recruits: Sally Cross and Jane we rang Full Pull and Stand, Reducing Rounds, Call Changes and Kaleidoscope, practicing for some of the ringing activities this coming weekend. We saw some good Full Pull and Stand and call changes, while for the Reducing Rounds exercise there were some slightly over-eager ringers on the lighter bells, but one to practice in the future.

We rang Plain Hunt on 5 and Plain Courses of Grandsire Doubles for Sue Carter, Rosemarie, Rosemary, Ernie, Hilary and Jean. Some reasonable striking was achieved, especially as a number of ringers had little experience of ringing the method on their bell.

With a view to upcoming Quarter Peals, we rang touches of Plain Bob Doubles for Sue M, Judith and Ann. Nora and Tim also rang inside and Rosemarie trebled to one of the touches, assisted by Kathryn. A further touch of Grandsire was attempted with Ann, Diana, Kathryn and Jeremy inside, Sally Wale trebling.

We finally rang down in peal, a number of our ringers showing progress also with that.

A busy weekend for most if not all ringers is coming up with the Ringing Remembers and Ring Out for Peace commemorations. The very best of luck to all involved.

Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice at Ludgershall 3 August

The 5 bells of Ludgershall attracted 16 ringers from 6 towers for the monthly branch practice. Several ringers were missing – on holiday, suffering from the heat or celebrating wedding anniversaries! Although Richard Haseldine is rather hidden in this photo – taken to record the Cliff East shield before it (possibly) moves from last year’s winning team – he and Jeremy Adams ensured all ringers had plenty of practice – whether call changes, Stedman, Grandsire and even a touch of Reverse Canterbury.

Let’s hope we get as many, if not more, for the Striking Competition and barbecue on Saturday 1 September!

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Branch Practice 6th July 2018 at Caversfield

Eight ringers from four towers attended last night’s branch practice at Caversfield where we also welcomed back Anthony Cole, Sarah and Sam Cole from Bicester Branch’s Scottish outpost, making a flying visit to the area.

We rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles with Jean, Simon, Judith, Ellie and Jane, then plain courses of bob doubles.

As our band had been strengthened somewhat by our Scottish exiles, we were able to ring a number of well-struck touches of Grandsire, one with Ellie Seddon inside, Plain Bob Doubles with Judith Vickars at 3 and Ellie on 4, and plain courses of Reverse Canterbury doubles.

Our final method was a couple of courses of St Simon’s bob doubles, which improved as we went on.

Great to see the Coles’ again. We learn that a mini-ring of 8 is on order for installation at their house in Forres. Perhaps an idea for a future Branch outing, I think?

the team at Caversfield

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Branch Practice 18 June Kirtlington 2018

10 ringers from 5 towers came to tonight’s  Branch Practice at Kirtlington, including Helen for some more practice at ringing up and down, very close now to raising and lowering all by herself.
We welcomed Rosemarie from Bletchingdon/Yarnton to her first experience at ringing Kirtlington’s bells, and benefitted from the experience of el presidente William Haynes, Tim Hillsdon, Teresa and Sue Carter from Islip, Stephen Cameron, Derek and Judith.
On tonight’s menu was Plain Hunt and Grandsire Doubles.

Derek, Rosemarie and Sue took turns ringing treble or 2 to Plain Hunt on 5, Derek taking a turn also at tenor.
After some call changes, called down by Teresa for Helen, we had some excellent cake and biscuits (left over from yesterday’s focussed practice), then progressed to ringing plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, Sue, Rosemarie and Derek taking turns to treble. All did very creditable striking. Well done!

After an attempted touch of Plain Bob Doubles, we did some Kaleidoscope dodging practice for Helen, Sue and Derek, before giving Sue, Rosemarie and Derek turns at ringing Plain Hunt on 6. Again, some very acceptable striking.

Another good practice, many thanks again to tonight’s helpers.

Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice Middleton Stoney 6th June 2018

A good turnout for Wednesday’s branch practice on a golden evening in the Middleton Stoney Park.

Although we missed the Vickars (enjoying their holiday in Dubrovnik!) Steve Cameron jetted in from Japan to join us and Kathryn returned from the US!

13 ringers (Teresa, Anne, Jean, Richard, Jan, Gareth, Eric, Hilary, Rosemary, Jan, and Linda) from 6 towers came so we were able to practice a variety of methods including Grandsire and Plain Bob and an attempt at a touch of Plain Bob Minor.

Middleton’s bells are a bit challenging but they sounded lovely enough to call two visitors who came to see what we were doing and stayed to listen.

Kathryn Grant

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Branch Practice Piddington 2nd May 2018

Five ringers from four towers came to tonight’s Branch Practice at Piddington, where we were met by Morwen, one of the Piddington ringers, who helped us ring up, but wanted the visitors to demonstrate their prowess.

We started with an aborted attempt of Grandsire Doubles, followed by a successful touch of Plain Bob Doubles. Next a couple of plain courses of Stedman, improving in the second course, before we returned to a successful touch of Grandsire, called by Jeremy.

For variety, we then rang a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, Anne unaffected, before a final successful touch of Grandsire and ringing down, with Morwen on 2.

Memorial made from WW1 propellor
Memorial made from WW1 propellor

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Branch Practice Stratton Audley 4th April 2018

At a showery evening showery four ringers at a time gathered for the April Branch Practice at Stratton Audley. Perhaps it was the combination of inclement weather, a much publicised UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match, or the challenging bells at Stratton Audley (not so challenging as some might have you believe), that numbers were low.

The first shift included our Ringing and Deputy Ringing Masters, Ann Martin and Alison from Stratton Audley, ringing Plain Hunt for Alison. I joined the group just before Alison went home. We then proved that even four can have fun at methods by firstly ringing a few plain courses of Plain Bob Minimus and then Stedman on four (Treble hunting up, making 6 blows behind, down to lead again; the other three bells do the front work, followed by 6 blows behind), with everyone having at least one turn on a working bell.

Good luck to Ann and Ellie who will be going on the Radley course Saturday 7th to do Plain Bob Minor.

Our next event is the Branch Outing on 21st April, starting at 10am at Drayton. Hope to see you then!

Steve Vickars

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Branch AGM Practice 5 March 2018

St Edburg's, Bicester

14 ringers from 8 towers attended the ringing practice following the Branch AGM on 5th March, including Colin, our area ODG steward.

After ringing up the back 8, at Helen’s request we rang call changes and Plain Hunt on 9, tenor covering.

After a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples we turned our attention to a number of plain courses and touches of doubles, comprising:

  • Two courses of Plain Bob Doubles, clearly called by Ellie, ringing from 2
  • Plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for Helen.
  • Plain Courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, with Stephen on 5

Getting more ambitious, we started a touch of Reverse St Bartholomew Doubles (plain courses are same as Grandsire Doubles Singles, Bobs cause a Plain Bob lead end). However, the band was thrown into confusion by the bobs (the work occurs immediately after the bob), so some more theory work is needed here.

Finally, we rang some more Plain Hunt Caters, before ringing down the back 8, finishing  quite nicely.

Hope to see lots of you at the Special Practice at Bletchingdon on 14th March.