of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers
We had 8 ringers from 6 towers at the monthly Branch Practice at Kirtlington on 3 August.
It was great to see real progress made on the 2nd for Grandsire Doubles and on Plain Hunt for two of our newer recruits – and to be able to leave the bells up for a wedding the following day! I’d forgotten to bring along posters for the Branch BBQ on Saturday 15 September but have now produced tickets for everyone who wants to come!
Kathryn Grant, Branch Sec
On Wed 18th July a massive 19 ringers came together from numerous towers and even from the neighbouring Oxford City Branch to make a concerted effort to learn Grandsire Doubles. I had really not expected such a huge turnout, but as a result I think we shall have to run more Grandsire Doubles practices!
We mainly rang plain courses with different learners in each time and in all cases ringing improved the more courses we rang. We also helped a few people trying to learn the Bobs & Singles, twisted Sue’s arm (and a couple of others) to have a go at the observation bell and set some homework for a couple of others to start looking at the observation bell so they can move up from ringing plain courses which they are now more than capable (if they do not loose their concentration!). We hardly stopped ringing, but with so many ringers there we had plenty of helpers to stand behind the learners (thank you all for helping out) and plenty of time for people to chat when they weren’t ringing so a fabulous night had by all – feeling quite tired now!
The next practice is the Branch Practice just up the road in Kirtlington (a lovely 8 with no local band so the village doesn’t hear their lovely bells that often). Do please come along and support that on Fri 3rd Aug.
Following last years failed attempt to hold a branch practice (only 3 ringers turned up) we were apprehensive about the turnout for this years attempt.
I started off playing the organ and Jeremy went outside to mow the churchyard grass, but no sooner than he had gone out 2 more ringers arrived. Having seen me on the organ they came to show me how to do it properly (!). One more ringer arrived then so we had to stop playing the organ and ring.
After an eventful ‘up’ we had several goes at Plain Hunt, making sure everyone moved to a different bell for each attempt – always a good idea so you don’t get used to just one bell. We then rang some call changes and more plain hunt before calling it a night. Stratton Audley only has 3 resident ringers so I wonder how many in the pub next door noticed two extra bells were ringing? The bells are not the easiest – you do have to pull them as they are on plain bearings (except the 4th), but you need some towers with more interesting handling to perfect your ringing technique. Anyway, nice to hear them all going.
Next practice is a Grandsire Doubles practice for Bletchingdon on 18th. Looks like I have to work, but will see if I can make it there before the end.
The chance for some slightly more advanced ringing brought people out on a lovely June evening to Islip. 12 ringers (from 6 towers) set our sights on Plain Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples. We succeeded in ringing touches of Plain Bob Minor (bobs and singles), plain hunt on 7 (and shaky hunt on 8), and plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, and a first attempt at a touch of Grandsire Doubles (bobs only). A really useful and productive practice so well done everyone 🙂
Only a few of us visited the pub afterwards, though the Charlton crew were planning to go to the pub when they got back to Charlton so the driver could drink too :9
Next practice is on the lovely bells at Stratton Audley so I encourage everyone to join us on Thurs 5th July for that (and the pub is next door too)!
On Wed 6th June 12 ringers from 6 towers met for the Branch practice at Middleton Stoney.
We started with call changes where I confused the locals by calling up instead of calling down…a discussion of the relative merits of both ways followed 🙂
We then rang plain courses of Grandsire which the local band are working on. The tower captain then encouraged us to try something more advanced so she rang the treble to a touch of Plain bob minor – something she hadn’t rung for many years.
More call changes and some plain hunt on 5 – Ann obviously isn’t challenged enough by call changes any more and managed ok .. well done 🙂
We then had more plain courses of Grandsire with Jen ‘inside’.
At this point my mobile found a signal and went mad delivering 30+ text messages about a power cut at work – I left Jeremy to organise ringing ‘something’ and down whilst I hunted for a strong enough signal to make some calls.
As most of the branch officers were present we held a short business meeting at the end to discuss proposals for the rehanging of Oddington which have been unringable for many years – we decided to support the proposal by offering to cover 10% of the costs from branch funds.
Next practice is at Islip in 2 weeks so hope to see lots of ringers there.
The draw of Rev Canterbury Doubles and Plain Bob Major obviously isn’t too high, but 7 ringers (1 Ludgershall, 1 Stratton, 5 Bicester) turned up at Bicester to try. Rumours one person had hidden in Dubai to avoid ringing Plain Bob Major are still to be proved true (you know who you are!). Unfortunately that meant Plain Bob Major was not going to happen, but we did manage both plain courses and a touch of Rev Canterbury, and gave Helen a few goes at Grandsire Doubles (plain courses). We even managed a course of Stedman Doubles.
Sadly the trip to the pub afterwards was not to be 🙁
The next event for us, and the whole country is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – we’re hoping to arrange a quarter peal at Bicester, and a few other towers would like to ring if they can get enough – an volunteers to go to (perhaps a few) towers please contact me ASAP as I am going to try to coordinate it all.
The next branch event is the Branch Practice at Stratton Audley – one of the only places where there are bells with proper character in the branch so please do come along to support that. Hopefully we will have a few more than we did for last years practice, and the pub is next door to the church too 🙂
Anthony
On Wed 2nd May a number of the branch drove through the floods (!) to join the local Piddington band for the branch practice. All in all 12 ringers (from 6 branch towers!) rang the 5 very loud bells concentrating on call changes which is the local band speciality. The striking was really good and that is often better than more complicated, but less well struck method! Having said that, we did manage one 120 of Grandsire Doubles which, once it settled, sounded good too 🙂
A thirteenth person was at the practice who was there to see what goes on (but hadn’t rung before) – we couldn’t let him leave without having had a go and he proved very capable of doing the backstroke so hopefully by the time we visit next time he will be a fully fledged member of the Piddington band too 🙂
The locals were very welcoming and obviously have a great laugh at their practices. The evening finished early (just after 8:30pm) as they have to consider the neighbours so there was plenty of time for a visit to the Seven Stars for a couple of rounds of drinks. A lovely evening with great company and definitely worth another visit very soon 🙂
Last night there was a special practice at Islip with the nominated methods being April Day Doubles (a Doubles variation – Plain Bob Doubles with a Grandsire Single as a Bob), and Plain Bob Triples.
10 ringers and a new learner (welcome David!) banded together and the evening started with a faultless 120 of April Day 🙂 I could tell it was going to be a good evening! We then went on to ring plain courses of Plain Bob Triples (not quite as perfect, but we got there and it sounded great in places), a touch of Grandsire Doubles, more April Day and then we decided to try the special method from last month (Kent TB Minor).. a bit ropey in places, but we succeeded where we failed last month so progress!
Interspersed with all this method ringing we gave David goes on the 6th (only his 2nd practice) and by the end he was ringing the bell on his own with a tutor standing close by to give the odd helping hand.
No practice would be the same without a trip to the pub afterwards so we went to the Red Lion for a change. Lovely to see Willy about and looking better than he has for some time – great to have you back 🙂
Bicester Branch outing. 2012
Our car outing to the Northamptonshire area started out colder than previous days. We were happy to be joined early on by a ringer from a neighbouring branch to ours, but during the first tower (Wappenham) we only just had enough to ring all the bells. The best bit about that first ring was the nice new balcony with a straight flight of stairs – the ropes were rather stretchy. I learned later that they don’t get rung very often.
The next ring was at Green’s Norton where we were glad to find the local coffee morning going on, and company for the three people with us who can’t ring. Another ring of six, so we continued with the usual Grandsire and Plain Bob, and also tried Stedman with the help of the local.
Lunch was at the Pub just down the hill, so we had our longest walk of the day. The children got served fairly quickly and even managed a pudding, but by the time all adults were finished their first course we had to race straight to the next tower. I don’t know if the one outing dog ever did get her lunch.
At Pattishall we were joined by two more ringers, meaning we would have enough for the 8 bell tower at the end. Here we rang Plain Bob and Grandsire again and the children had a good game of hunt the teddy and also a quick play at the local park.
If we were a bit late to the third tower it was nothing compared to the last one, owing to the church being completely hidden in a private estate. If a local tells you the church is signed ‘just through the next gate’ do not believe them! After many trips around the village, round the estate and through the stables we eventually found the church. The various local people different car loads spoke to all seemed very used to giving lost bell ringers directions. It was a lovely picturesque location and a nice light ring of eight, so we were glad to have just caught the keyholder. We had fun ringing … and chasing escaped lambs. After a group photo it was not too long a drive back home again.
Hope to see more ringers and kids next time.
Sarah Cole
Below is a gallery of the photos taken during the outing on 31 March 2012.
Attendance was low, but we all had a good ring.
A full report will be provided shortly.
