Category: Branch Practice

On Monday 6th March Kirtlington hosted the March branch practice. We started with just six ringers from Bicester and Kirtlington, but were soon joined by Jan and Richard from Ludgershall and Stephen from Charlton. After some call changes on 8, Judy and Hugh made our number up to 11. We did call changes and several variations of plain hunt on 5 through to 8, mostly very reasonable, including a variant, called “churchyard bob”.

We rang a fairly well struck touch of Grandsire Doubles and two plain courses of Plain Bob Triples, before we were joined by the newly installed rector of Kirtlington Gareth, who very gamely had a go at ringing back stroke. We hope to see Gareth again soon and maybe we’ll see his name on a peal board in the tower, emulating clerical ringers of yore 🙂

After ringing down all 8 in peal, some of us repaired to the Dashwood for a well earned drink.

Anthony Cole

On Mon 6th Feb Bicester hosted the February branch practice. We had 9 ringers (so close to being able to ring 10!).

After ringing up the front 6 and ringing some Call Changes for Sue we rang up the back 4 as a couple of extra ringers arrived. We rang plain hunt on 7 fairly well before giving Sue some call changes on 8.

Grandsire Doubles (plain courses) were next for Helen, followed by a rather shaky couple of courses of Plain Bob Minor.

After more call changes on 8 we tried something a little more advanced.. Spliced Plain Bob and Reverse Canterbury Doubles – the band was skeptical, but by swapping methods half way through a lead it proved easy enough and we managed a touch and were applauded afterwards.

We rang down the front 4 and then the back 6 before heading off home.

Our next event is our AGM at Kirtlington. Do please try to come if you can (it would be good to have every tower represented) – more details on the AGM notice page.

Anthony Cole

On Tues 3rd Jan, the first day back to work for many, Islip hosted the first branch practice of 2017.

We just had enough with 6 ringers and rang plain hunt for Sue, plain courses of Grandsire Doubles for James and Sally, call changes, more Grandsire Doubles and plain hunt. We also had some useful discussions on how call changes work.

Next practice is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 16th Jan – Plain Bob Minor and Winchendon Place Doubles are the proposed methods.

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 7th December 8 guild members (7 branch members plus our Guild Steward Colin) headed for the Branch Practice At Charlton On Otmoor.

We started with plain course of Grandsire Doubles for Gareth, followed by a rather shaky touch of Plain Bob Doubles for SteveC.

We then had a touch of Grandsire Doubles and and another go at the touch of Plain Bob Doubles.

We then had some plain hunt on 6 and more Grandsire Doubles plain courses before another touch of Grandsire Doubles with SteveV inside. We finished with a couple of courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles and down.

As with most Charlton practices we headed across the road for some drinks before heading home.

Our next (and last) practice will be the special practice and Christmas social at KIRTLINGTON (not Bicester as previously advertised) on Mon 19th December. Hopefully see lots of you there 🙂

Anthony Cole

Bellringing (Campanology) is often thought of as an old man’s hobby, at least by the non-ringer. However, last night proved anything but with 10 women and only 4 men attending. As a branch most towers have the same of each gender or more female ringers than male.

By the time we had enough to ring up at the Bletchingdon branch practice on Wed 2 Nov I was feeling a little outnumbered as the only male present! However, that ratio improved as the evening progressed.

After a rough “up” we started with call changes and then followed it with plain hunt and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. The evening progressed with more of each of these, visible (and auditory) progress being made in the plain hunt.

Mike (tower captain of Launton) caused a little consternation with the Bletchingdon tower captain as she did not know him and he feigned not being a capable ringer.. don’t think she will let him forget that 😀 Ribbing continued throughout the evening!

We managed a touch of Grandsire Doubles (well done Sue ringing half hunt) and after some plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles we also managed a touch of Plain Bob Doubles to consolidate the progress made by two of our members who were fresh from attending the Steeple Aston course on Plain Bob Doubles.

“Down” was actually rather good, despite the apprehension displayed by those catching hold.

The next branch event is on Tues 22nd November at Islip.

Anthony Cole

On Mon 3rd Octboer Bicester played host to the October branch practice with 10 ringers (9 branch members plus a visitor from Northampton).

We started by ringing up the back 6 and then ringing the 3 & 4 up so we had the back 8.

We started with call changes on the 8 and  then 2 more people arrived so we rang up the trebles.

We rang rounds on 10, then plain hunt on 5. Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Triples and some call changes on 8. Next was a touch of Grandsire Doubles. The Bicester regulars had been trying to learn All Hallows so we rang some plain courses, followed by more plain hunt on 5 and a touch of Plain Bob Minor on the back 6. Then we rang down and (as it was my birthday the next day) we headed for the Littlebury Hotel bar for a drink.

The next branch event is the mini-tour on Sat 15th October. Details have been circulated by email.

Anthony Cole

On Tuesday 6th Sept Launton hosted the September Branch Practice. 12 members from 6 towers attended. The evening was rather warm and muggy but (unlike last year when it rained) those not ringing were able to sit on the bench outside the tower.

After a shaky up we rang first plain courses and then a touch of Grandsire Doubles. We rang more plain courses before some Plain Bob Doubles, a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, another touch of Grandsire and some Plain Bob Minor. One final course of Grandsire Doubles was followed by ringing down with mixed results.

Following the practice favourable comments were given to the local Launton ringers so it must have sounded good 😀

Next on the branch schedule we have a special practice at Bletchingdon on Wed 28th Sept (Grandsire and Plain Bob Doubles). Details of the “Mini-tour” will hopefully be available shortly – date for your diary – Saturday 15th October.

Anthony Cole

On Friday 5th August 14 ringers from across the branch (ad one former-branch member up from Cornwall) headed for the branch practice at Ludgershall.

After ringing up we went straight into a touch of Grandsire Doubles and then helped he locals with a few plain courses of Blaisdon Bob Doubles (not exactly a regularly rung method at branch practices, but the locals had been learning it because if instead of using the Blaisdon “Bob” you substitute it with a Grandsire “Single” .. called as a “Bob” you get the Doubles variation “Ludgershall”.

Next we did plain hunt on 5 and Plain Bob Doubles and  another touch of Grandsire Doubles.

On request we then had a touch of Stedman Doubles (and a comment from Simon of how many dodges there were at the back) and more plain hunt before some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles.

Despite “we haven’t got past the first bob” and other misgivings, as our finale I felt we ought to try to complete a touch of Ludgershall…. a little wobbly at the first bob, but onwards we went .. completing the 120 successfully to a round of applause.

We rang down and then brought out the Prosecco … yes I did type that right.. this was because Sarah and I were celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary by going ringing to the branch practice! Following a toast from Jeremy and Rachel (I think!) Sarah and I tried to get others to follow us to the pub but I don’t think anyone wanted to be a gooseberry on our night out without the kids!

The big summer break is now upon is and the next branch event is the branch Striking Competition and BBQ at Bicester on Saturday 3rd September – 5:30pm ringing followed by BBQ at the Old Priory in Priory Lane (home of Helen, ringer of Bicester). The competition will be judged by Richard White of Woodstock and promises to be a good fun evening – my fellow Caversfield team members and I are hoping to defend our trophy so from our perspective we hope no other teams enter(!), but I would encourage you to enter a team if you can (we won with relatively new recruits ringing call changes last year). Please let Kathryn or Anthony know if you’re coming to the BBQ to give us an idea for catering.

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 1st June Middleton Stoney hosted the June branch practice. In the past this has been a lovely practice with a warm welcome and a lovely summers evening. The welcome for 15 ringers from around the branch was as warm as ever but for the first time in 5 years it was a damp summers evening.

We started with plain hunt on 5 for a couple of bands and then rang call changes. Next we rang plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles without any problems. More plain hunt on 5 and then on 6 was followed by call changes and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles ably led by Jeremy whilst I investigated the church and organ! More plain courses of Grandsire followed then call changes and a final touch of Grandsire Doubles before ringing down.

Our next practice is call changes and plain hunt (and possibly a little more?) at Kirtlington on Monday 13th – a chance for branch folks to meet many members of the newly formed band. I look forward to seeing you there 😀

Anthony Cole

On Wed 4th May (Star Wars day!) 12 ringers (1 local, 1 Launton, 1 Biceter, 2 Kirtlington and 7 from Stratton Audley) headed for Piddington and the May branch practice.

The locals had been planning to cancel their own practice due to illness, but the bells were rung up ready for us when we arrived. We started with plain hunt on 4 before the band from Stratton Audley descended en-mass – nice to see them all (though I admit we didn’t hear them come into the church – bells being as loud as they are).

We rang several lots of call changes to get folks used to the bells and then started on plain hunt on 5. That went pretty well so we started on plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and by the end of the evening 3 of the Stratton Audley ringers had rung the treble to Grandsire Doubles for the first time .. excellent progress 😀

Ringing down.. well .. not going to mention that… whoops …just did!

Next practice is the special practice at Bicester on Mon 16th May – suggested methods are Little Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples – we will (as always) ring other things too so please do support that event and if you fancy having a go at plain hunt on 7 (or perhaps even a plain course of Grandsire Triples) then we would love to give you the opportunity.

Anthony Cole