Category: Branch Practice

On Wednesday 3rd June 9 branch folk banded together for the (as usual) sunny June Middleton Stoney branch practice.

After Samuel had rung up the Treble and two, we rang the others up in peal before starting with plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles which the local band have been working on. Two courses without too much trouble 🙂 We then rang Grandsire Doubles and call changes. The evening progressed alternating Plain Bob and Grandsire and the locals commented how a couple of extra ringers had helped them through the Plain Bob where normally they struggle – exactly what a Branch Practice is for 😀

The next branch event is the special practice at Islip on Tues 16th June – Plain Bob Doubles and Stedman Doubles on the cards – perhaps some of the Middleton ringers need to come along and work on Plain Bob then too.

On Wed 6th May 13 ringers from 5 branch towers banded together for the May branch practice at Piddington. The locals hadn’t expected us (proof reading of the branch diary cards missed that we forgot to put anything on for May!), but they were happy to see us.

We started with call changes (perhaps we should rename that “Yell changes” given the volume of the bells!) and then more call changes. We then progressed to plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and then as the evening progressed we alternated call changes and Grandsire with helpers standing behind to help one of the locals, and to help Anne try a touch. We finished with some plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles before ringing down (not our best if I am honest!).

The evening was not without incident though. Twice the 4th bell woke up the ringers by slipping wheel (once with a very experienced ringer on the end!) so a bit of maintenance will be done to look at the cause of that.

The next branch event (again not on the cards!) is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 18th May – Little Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples; we’re expecting some ringers from Buckingham to boost our numbers so please come along and attempt these methods or just the treble to them – we will hopefully have enough for someone to stand behind you. If that isn’t a draw then just come and admire Bicester’s newly painted ringing room!!

Anthony Cole

On Friday 10th April 11 ringers from 5  branch towers came together to ring the heaviest set of bells in the branch. Ambrosden only has one resident ringer so it was nice to hear them rung.
After a shaky ring up we started with rounds to help the lesser experienced used to the bells – there is a long draught to get used to as well as the weight of the bells.
Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles on the back 6 before more Grandsire on the front bells.
We moved on to a touch of Plain bob Doubles and then call changes.
Next we had a couple of courses of Plain Bob Minor on the back bells – have to admit the ringing master enjoyed turning in the tenor!
We rang some more Grandsire on the front 6 with bobs this time before the last set of call changes.

Thanks to a number of experienced ringers standing behind learners it was a good teaching practice and great experience for all ringing heavier bells.
The next branch event is the branch outing on Saturday 18th April – details on the website.

Anthony Cole

On Monday 5th January 8 ringers came to Bicester for the first branch practice of 2015.
Very much a low key start to the year compared to Jan 2014, but a cracking practice nonetheless with the whole of the Caversfield band gaining lots of help from the aid of Fay (great to see you back ringing), Ann and Jeremy.  Sam and Nick joined  in the ringing up in peal to start with then we rang plain hunt on 5 and then Nick had a go at the treble to Grandsire Doubles with advice on which to follow. Sam showed us how to ring the treble to Plain bob Doubles by listening only (using the methodology app on his Hudl). We then progressed to Plain hunt on 6 with both Amanda and Nick managing well. Amanda then tried covering as we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before ringing down (not so good but Nick and Amanda are still learning).
All in all a thoroughly useful practice that really helped the learners..exactly what they needed and exactly what branch practices are for.
Next branch event is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 19th Jan – hopefully see lots of you there then.

On Wednesday 3rd December Charlton on Otmoor hosted the last branch practice of 2014. The local band had recently been on an intensive course of Grandsire Doubles so the 10 branch members (2 from Bicester, 3 from Launton, and 5 from Chalrton) worked on that all evening with the inclusion of some plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles. We mostly rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, but Ann, Ali and Ian had goes at the bobs in Grandsire succeeding thanks to encouraging words from Willy and other ringers who stood behind. The evening was both encouraging in terms of progress and satisfying for the locals who felt that this really helped consolidate the efforts at the recent course.

We went to the pub afterwards to sample some new (very good) beers and a good chat.

The last branch event of the year is at Bicester on Mon 15th December – the special practice with a Christmas social – it will have to start a few minutes late (there is a carol service in the church finishing at 7:30pm-ish!). Look forward to seeing lots of you there (for the mince pies/sausage rolls as well as the ringing!)

On Wed 5th November whilst some were out listening to loud bangs from fireworks 16 ringers (from 4 branch towers and two towers outside the branch) were making a different (and much more musical) sound in Bletchingdon which was playing host to the November branch practice.

We rang a small number of things over the evening – Call Changes, Grandsire Doubles plain courses and Grandsire Doubles touches, but with lots of helpers it made for a good teaching practice as those learning generally had someone behind them to whisper useful tips.

The evening finished with a pretty good ring down in peal which received applause from those not ringing so a good end to a good evening.

On Monday 6th October Bicester hosted the October branch practice. 11 ringers came along from as far afield as Buckingham boosting what we would be able to ring.

We started by ringing up the front 6 and then Samuel rang the treble to plain hunt on 5. We then rang up the back 4 and rang plain hunt on 7 and then 8.

Next we rang a plain course of Grandsire Triples before moving up to ringing call changes on 10.

Next we rang one of the methods Ian wanted to try – a plain course of Plain Bob Major.. no problems so perhaps a quarter peal is his next target?

We rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles for Steve and then attempted a touch of Grandsire Triples.. miscalled by me.. whoops.. in my defence I rarely get to ring even plain courses so not entirely surprised!  We tried again and got it the second time.

We rang some more plain hunt on 8 before attempting Kent Treble Bob Minor.. Ian’s first attempt.. we got just over half way so a good start.

After dropping the treble and two we rang 8 down in peal which was pretty well struck.

A visit to the pub followed for some but sadly I had to get Samuel home to bed… school night!

As schools go back so it was Launton’s turn to host a branch practice. Tuesday 2nd September 10 ringers from 5 branch towers banded together (only one school aged!).

After ringing up we rang call changes, and a number of plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. To ensure everyone got a ring the tower captain was called up to the ringing room where we rang a touch of 120 Grandsire Doubles (sbspx3 to make it harder!). After some more call changes we then pushed a little and Anne managed a touch of Grandsire Doubles as the observation bell.. slowly getting there 🙂

More plain courses of Grandsire were followed by some more call changes. The evening was ended with a 120 of Plain Bob Minor (successful after a restart), and then (if I’m honest a poor) ringing down in peal (at least we finished in rounds).

The next branch event is the special practice (Grandsire Doubles) at Bletchingdon on Wed 17th Sept shortly followed by the Branch BBQ and Striking Competition on Friday 26th Sept (Islip) – book your tickets with Kathryn, Teresa or Anthony

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 4th June 5 branch folk (and one young recruit) ventured into Middleton Park to ring with 6 locals on the six bells of Middleton Stoney.

We started with rounds with Samuel on the treble (being a longish draught the sally did land on his head a few times, but his dad was more than a match for a wayward sally). We then progressed to plain courses of Grandsire Doubles which became much the method of choice for the evening. We did manage a touch of Grandsire Doubles for Anne, more rounds and call changes for Samuel (on the 2 this time, and with a better behaved rope) and at the end a 120 of Plain Bob Doubles with the tower captain on the treble.

A lovely evening was had by all and the first branch practice for the branches youngest new recruit – well done Sam!

 

On Wednesday 7th May it was the turn of Piddington to host a branch practice. It was a lovely summers evening and whether this, the bells, or the fabulously friendly Piddington ringers were the draw I don’t know, but 15 ringers from 8 branch towers came along!!! (Piddington 4, Launton 1, Ambrosden 1, Stratton 1, Bicester 1, Charlton 3, Ludgershall 3, Brill 1).

Piddington’s local band generally ring call changes, and perhaps plain hunt but wanted to hear us ring more advanced things too. We started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, and then call changes. One of the locals then wanted to try plain hunt and with a bit of help managed it. We rang more Grandsire and more plain hunt. Yet another call for us to ring something more advanced so a touch of Grandsire was duly rung with one of the locals on the Treble. After more Grandsire plain courses and plain hunt we finished with a touch of Plain Bob Doubles.

As always at Piddington, we had a fun evening with lots of giggles and had a good ring also, and we left with them wanting us to come back more regularly.. Will have to se what we can do!