Category: Branch Practice

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!

On Tuesday 4th March (pancake day) 8 ringers from 3 branch towers banded together for the Branch Practice at Islip.

We rang mainly Plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, but as we had 8 ringers we decided to remind Islip that they have 8 bells by ringing up the less used treble and two and rang some nice call changes before finishing.

The Islip ringers hospitality, legendary in the branch, was then in full force with the annual pancake party following the practice, this year at Sally and Richard’s house. We all had our fill of two or three pancakes each and various beverages before the evening draw to a close. Very many thanks to Sally and Richard for opening their home.

The next branch event is the special practice at Bletchingdon (Plain Bob Doubles and Grandsire Doubles) on Wed 19th March. Hopefully see many of you there then.

5 fearless ringers braved the wet and windy weather for branch practice at Kirtlington on Friday 7th Feb. We rang on the middle 5, the following methods were attempted Grandsire Doubles, Bob Doubles, Reverse Canterbury, Grandsire Doubles. Ringing was challenging to say the least, made more difficult without a covering tenor. Still it was good to give the bells a ring!

Thanks to Ian for the above report.

The next Branch event is the AGM at Weston on the green on 22nd Feb, 6pm. Please refer to the Branch AGM Agenda, Minutes and sample menu.

On Wednesday 6th November 9 ringers from 5 branch towers and 1 W&W tower banded together for the branch practice at Bletchingdon. We were met by the tower captain who didn’t ring due to a back injury (get well soon Sue), and our President came along to ring looking healthier than he has for a long time.. Glad to see you back ringing Willy

After ringing up we started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles (a favourite at Bletchingdon which is why we host so many Grandsire special practices there), and then we followed that with plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles. More Grandsire followed and a touch of Grandsire where Anne stood behind to make sense (hopefully) of the observation bell… Won’t be long before Anne will be showing us how that is done! We finished with more Grandsire Doubles before ringing down.

All in all a pleasant evening on some lovely bells. The next practice is the special practice at Islip on Tues 19th Nov – Grandsire Triples and Oxford Bob Triples. Not sure we will have the ringers to ring them, but we can at least try.

On Monday 7th October it was Bicester’s turn to host a branch practice.  The turnout was worse than at Stratton Audley in July.. only 4 ringers.  However we did ring….

We started chiming tunes (twinkle twinkle little star, oranges and lemons, kum by yah). We then decided to ring up which Anne did really well. We then progressed to Plain bob minimus. We failed at Stedman minimus and then rang more plain bob minimus before ringing down (again well done to Anne).

Having booked a baby sitter so Sarah and I could both go we weren’t going to miss out on the pub!

Next is the branch outing – please do support that and have a fun day out around Newbury.  The next special practice is again at Bicester in two weeks time..hopefully we will get a better turnout then (Oxford bob minor and Plain bob minor).

On Tuesday 3rd Sept 14 ringers from 7 branch towers met at Launton for the September Branch Practice. As in previous years it was a lovely summers evening which is good given the cosy nature of Launton tower!

We started with a request – ringing up in peal practice for Jean – we made sure we had enough so I could stand behind and whisper advice, but it still wasn’t the best “up” – not all Jean’s fault though!

We moved on to plain courses of Grandsire Doubles which several bands tried.

About half way through the evening we rang down, and back up again to give more practice at “up” and “down” – the tenor proved a little tricky on the “up” and least said about that the better. However, it highlights that a ringing up and down course is needed – something to add to next years diary!

More Grandsire Doubles and Plain Bob Doubles followed with Elaine being persuaded to have a go on the treble to Grandsire. As darkness fell so our time was nearly up, but we managed to have a quick (eventful) touch of Plain Bob Minor before ringing down. A good evening get together with some ringing interspersed, and also a chance to plug the Branch BBQ and Striking Competition on Saturday (5:30pm, Islip) – hoping to see lots of branch members and their families for that – and here’s hoping I get to sample the winning champagne again (it is the taking part that matters though!)

Anthony Cole

On Friday 2nd August Ludgershall hosted a branch practice.  There hadn’t been a Ludgershall practice for 6 months so it was a treat for 5 locals to be joined by 7 others (including my two little darlings aged 9 and 6 who don’t ring properly yet).

We started with plain courses of Grandsire which was abruptly halted when the treble rope slipped wheel and the treble set itself. Val went upstairs and resolved that with the careful application of a broom.

We then rang call changes follwed by a touch of Grandsire.  Next we tried some plain hunt on 5 before moving on to a touch of plain bob doubles. After more call changes Peter suggested Stedman Doubles which we managed a touch of (with the single being whispered between 4 and 5). The observer watching the treble had spotted the numbers for the second course were different so we explained what had happened.. well spotted!

More plain hunt was followed by more call changes before a fairly well struck down ending in Weasels (14235) followed by applause!

Samuel quickly demonstrated how to chime and tie up a bell rope without help – well done Sam. Then it was home & bedtime for all.

Next practice is the special practice at Caversfield on Monday 19th August – please do support that if you can.

Advanced notice – the branch striking competition and BBQ will be on Saturday 7th Sept and once again will be hosted by Islip so please put that in your diary.

“I’m in Dubai”

“Wimbledon calling”

Excuses abound for the lack of turnout for the branch Practice at Stratton Audley on a warm and sunny Thurs 4th July.

Despite these excuses we did get 5 ringers (3 Stratton ringers, one from Launton and me) and we rang call changes, and plain hunt on five.

There was a chat about a locally haunted house and then how many ringers they would have for the following Sunday service which triggered comments of Jeremy needing to ring two bells and him saying how easy it was! When called to demonstrate he declined, but egged on I duly did ring the treble and two to show that it was possible (years of fooling around teaches many things about what is possible with a bell rope). Intrigued Debs then rang the treble one handed to see how easy it actually was though she didn’t venture as far as ringing two. Jeremy then felt he had to show willing and rang one handed on treble and then the two, but didn’t ring two bells together.

After this “showing off” session we rang some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles which Debs hadn’t tried before and with a little help talking her through it she managed the two ok and seemed pleased she had tried something new. Very well done also goes to Ann who managed the treble without any guidance.

Our next event is the special practice at Islip on 16th July – Stedman Doubles and Plain Bob Major if we get enough. Hopefully I will see many of you there.