Category: Branch Event

On Wednesday 17th Sept Bletchingdon hosted a special Grandsire Doubles practice.  9 ringers came along to supplement the 4 regulars.

We started off with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles and some call changes for those not able to ring methods yet. We then progressed to bob only touches with Sue observation.

A few more plain courses followed and more call changes before putting Tim and Anne through the observation bell touch and Jean and Ernie through more plain courses. The ringing down could have been better but everyone seemed to have found it a useful practice and a good number were able to try something a little harder than usual which is the best way of learning and just what these practices are for.

The next branch event is the striking competition and bbq at Islip on Friday 26th Sept. Do please come along for a fun social event with a ringing competition shoehorned on. Do let Kathryn know if you are coming so appropriate amounts of food can be prepared.

Anthony Cole

On Monday 21st July Bicester hosted the (rescheduled) special practice for July. The methods nominated were Grandsire Doubles & Kent TB Minor. With a couple of people calling to apologise for non-attendance before the practice I was sceptical we would have enough to ring, but as usual when I get these feelings, I am proved wrong! 15 ringers from 6 branch towers came along (the main draw obviously being Grandsire Doubles). After ringing up (with a 10 year old showing how it is done!!) we started with plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before ringing up the back 4 so we could ring rounds on all 10! (Well done Samuel – first time ringing on anything above 6).

We rang more plain courses of Grandsire before some more rounds on 10 (well done Amanda this time – again first time on 10). We had a touch of Grandsire Doubles with a couple of people stood behind to watch before several folk decided to drift away to work etc. This killed off the possibility of attempting Kent (sorry Kathryn – to be fair we were skating on thin ice with that one anyway!) but we rang more Grandsire Doubles and call changes on 8 (again a first for Amanda – *so* pleased with my learners 🙂 ) before ringing down. A good evening with a surprisingly large turnout – long may that continue!

We have a ringing up & down course on Saturday to help improve confidence ringing up & down individually as well as in peal so a report on that after the event! Have a good summer break everyone (we still have some practices over the summer!!)

On Tues 17th June 9 ringers (from 3 branch towers) and 2 learners came together for the special practice at Islip. The set methods were Plain Bob Doubles and Stedman Doubles. The learners had a go first and then we rang up the back 5 bells.

We started with plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles, followed by more tuition for the learners. Then we had a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with the 3 observation (and Sally watching). This was followed by more tuition for the learners after which they went home. We then repeated the touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Sally observation (and Kathryn “helping” her!!).

Next we had a go at Stedman Doubles. It was going well so a quiet single was called but one of the affected bells proceeded to do the single incorrectly and it fired out.

We had another go at a touch of Plain Bob Doubles with Steve affected by the “bobs” this time, and finished with another touch of Stedman Doubles which got a past all the singles this time (but still didn’t get to the end:( )

A walk down to the Swan Inn followed ringing down (pretty well struck!) for some refreshment.

We have a little gap now with the next branch event being the special practice (again at Islip) on Tues 15th July – Grandsire Doubles & Kent TB Minor being the set methods.

On Tuesday 20th May 9 ringers (and one fairly new recruit) arrived for the special practice at Islip – great to see our secretary back up the tower following slipping and breaking her wrist earlier in the year. The nominated methods for the evening were Little Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples.

We started with a rather shaky course of Little Bob Minor on the back 6before ringing up the front two and ringing plain hunt on 7. Flushed with the success of ringing on 8 we pushed onward with a couple of fairly well struck Grandsire Triples… Very satisfying, though the first course was better than the last. We then had some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles before having a further go at Little Bob Minor (this time more successfully so we rang three courses). We finished with a touch of Grandsire Doubles, some plain hunt on 7 and then down, before heading the Swan for a drink.

Another fine evening with fine ringing and fine company.

Next is the branch practice at Middleton Stoney on Wednesday 4th June – hopefully see many of you there for that.

Bletchingdon played host to the branch special practice on Wed 19th March. The set methods were Plain Bob Doubles and Gransdire Doubles. Bletchingdon practices are always over subscribed so I was expecting lots of ringers at this practice too.

We started with just sue and myself, but 3 arrived from Yarnton after a short while. Sadly that was it. Nevertheless we rang up and started with some plain hunt on 5. One of the ringers mentioned that they struggle to hear their bell so after a little discussion we rang call changes allowing everyone to listen to the bells and try to pick out their bell each time.

We finished with some plain courses of Grandsire Doubles.

Although we didn’t get to ring much, helping ringers to pick out their bell is a useful exercise and one we likely would not have had time to do with lots of people so still a worthwhile practice.

Next practice is the branch practice at Ambrosden in a couple of weeks.