Category: Branch Practice

On Tues 2nd Feb Islip hosted the February branch practice. 20 people (19 ringers and 1 vicar) attended the practice.. most folk at a branch practice for a while… a delight to see 😀

We started off with rounds on 6 and then on 8, followed by call changes on 6. Becky then had a go at the treble to Grandsire Doubles which was followed by more rounds for Chandon and call changes on 8.

We had another go at Grandsire Doubles (with Becky on the treble again) followed by plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles. Next we did a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Anne on a working bell (a 60 with only bobs, twice through), which also gave Rachel a chance to look at what hunting the treble is all about. Then Rachel had a go at plain hunt on 5 from the treble and seemed to get the idea fairly quickly – well done Rachel! We rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles and a plain course of Stedman Doubles to finish before ringing down 8 in peal (with applause at the end so it was a decent down :D).

During the evening Laura had a few handling practices too.

As is custom in Islip we then headed for the pub for refreshments and a chance for me to have a quick pre-AGM chat with the VP and Secretary.

Our next event is the Branch AGM at Caversfield on Sat 20th Feb – 10:30am start with ringing and service, followed by the meeting and a pub lunch. It would be nice to see at least one representative from each tower especially as attendance in recent years has been sadly quite low. Full details are on the Branch AGM page.

Anthony Cole

On Monday 4th January (even before the local schools went back) 9 branch members attended the first branch practice of the year at Bicester.

The latest edition of Odd Bob and a list of 2016 branch practices was handed out to the towers present (not all packs having been prepared ahead of the practice.. much to Jeremy’s chagrin). With 6 ringers present before 7:40pm (very encouraging!) we started by ringing up the back 6 (knowing that a few extra ringers were due to come so 8 was a possibility!). We rang  a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Hannah attempting the bobs.. some coaxing from the conductor was required, but we got through it and talked about it afterwards ahead of another attempt to be made later.

Someone suggested they hadn’t rung Stedman Doubles for ages.. well.. a quick look around the room suggested we had a (out of practice) band that could ring it so whilst that was looked up we rang up the front 4 and then rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. After some “negotiating” as to who would ring which bell we attempted Stedman.. first attempt didn’t work, but second attempt got through to the end and the third attempt was much better. Fay then mentioned that “in years gone by” we rang Stedman Triples at Bicester practices.. so there is a challenge for the branch folk this year.. to ring a course of Stedman Triples before 2016 ends! Watch this space as they say.

Next we rang some (shaky at first) plain hunt on 7 and then plain hunt on 8, both of which improved the more courses we did.

Another touch of Plain Bob Doubles for Hannah (still with a little guidance) was followed by more plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. For our finale we rang one course of Plain Bob Minor as requested by Ian, before ringing down the back 8 in peal… not too badly (not going to mention the “up”).

A good start to 2016 and a challenge to focus our minds in the coming months! Next event is the special practice at Islip on Tues 19th Jan – Plain Bob Minor and Winchendon Place Doubles (St Simons with places everywhere instead of all the dodges!) – see Winchendon Place for the line!

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 2nd December 7 ringers (mostly from Charlton on Otmoor) banded together for the last branch practice of 2015 at Charlton on Otmoor.

After a rather rough ring up in peal we rang call changes for Rachel (well done!) – afterwards we had a discussion on how to work out which bell to follow if you the bells below you swap and if you head down.

Next we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and then (after a break and chat) some more Grandsire Doubles with Rachel on the treble (and Willy beside).. sadly that didn’t go too well, but then Rachel had only covered to plain hunt before! We swapped around and Rachel stood beside Willy whilst we rang again, talking her through it though I suspect quite a bit went over her head (session with the whiteboard required soon methinks). Rachel left for her (kept quiet until that point) birthday party! We rang plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles to finish and then after a reasonable ring down headed for the pub across the road (like you do at Charlton!)

Last event of the year is on a couple of weeks – Monday 14th Dec at Bicester.. with mince pies and sausage rolls if I get my act together in time! See lots of you there soon hopefully.

Anthony Cole

On Wednesday 4th Nov 18 ringers descended on Bletchingdon for the November branch practice.

After ringing up (best glossed over) we rang 3 lots of call changes for the two new learners from Kirtlington and one from Yarnton before moving on to plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. After more call changes we changed to plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles.  More call changes and then we finished with a touch of Grandsire Doubles (bobs only) with Anne on an affected bell (following being taught it on the Steeple Aston course) and she did fine earning herself some well deserved applause from those watching.

The evening saw big improvements from the Kirtlington learners and progress from others too and Willie said it was the best branch practice of the year.

The next branch event is the special practice at Bicester on Monday 16th Nov – special methods being St Simon’s and St Martin’s Doubles and maybe Plain Bob Triples if we’re lucky. Hopefully see lots of ringers coming to admire our new carpet!

Anthony Cole

On Monday 5th October 9 ringers from 4 branch towers banded together for the branch practice at Bicester.

After ringing up (hmm.. not our best) we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, followed by ringing up the back bells and trying some plain hunt on 7 – new for some! With a bit of coaxing we go through it so well done Jean.

We rang a touch of Grandsire Doubles with Jeremy calling to get in some practice before I get him to call a quarter peal… shame it fired out about 90 changes through. We rang more plain hunt on 7 and then a good touch of Plain Bob Minor. We rang more Grandsire Doubles before ringing down which was pretty good. Hopefully we’ll have our new carpet before you all next visit!

The next branch event is the special practice at Islip on Tues 20th Oct – Reverse Canterbury Doubles (Plain Bob Doubles with places instead of dodges) and Plain Bob Minor. See you all there!

Anthony Cole

Well it makes for a great headline anyway! On Friday 3rd July Caversfield hosted its first branch practice for many years and with a number of branch folk not having rung there it proved a good draw, with 13 branch members (from 6 towers), 1 learner, and 2 hangers on attending.

Having rung up in peal we rang plain courses of Grandsire Doubles (well done Sam on the treble), followed by some rounds for Claire. More plain courses of Grandsire Doubles followed (well done Amanda – first time ever inside, and hardly any prompting required – excellent:D ). We then had a short touch of Grandsire Doubles (almost there with the observation bell Anne!) with Simon watching. Some call changes were next followed by another touch of Grandsire Doubles (first Anne observation, then Simon – no mistakes Simon so singles next time!). More rounds for Claire – handling improving so well done. We then had a touch of Plain Bob Doubles before it was time to ring down.

A really useful practice for the Caversfield band – exactly what a branch practice is for – several firsts (that we cannot manage on our own yet, but having done it once, we can now start working on it ourselves) so thank you to all that attended.

The next branch event is the ringing up and down course on Saturday. Please take a look at the course notes beforehand if you are attending – see you in Bicester at 2pm .

The next practice is the special practice at Islip on Tues 21st July – Grandsire Doubles and Kent TB Minor if we get enough.. plus other things of course!

Please also start practising for the Branch Striking Competition – it is rapidly approaching – Sat 5th Sept at Islip (with BBQ)… reminds me I need to find a judge….

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.