Category: Branch Event

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Bicester Branch Outing 27th April 2019

Richard has kindly organised this year’s outing to a number of towers starting at Northleach, Gloucestershire on 27th April. Please see the attached itinerary.

Bicester Branch Outing
April 27th. 2019

09.30 – 10.15 Northleach Glos. SS Peter & Paul
Bells 8 18½ cwt in E
OS grid ref. SP111145 Post Code GL54 3EA

10.45 – 11.30 Sherborne Glos. St. Mary Magd.
Bells 6 9cwt 3qtr 23lb in G#
OS grid ref. SP168147 Post Code GL54 3DZ

12.00 – 12.45 Windrush Glos. St. Peter
Bells 6 7cwt 1qtr 13lb in Ab
OS grid ref. SP193130 Post Code OX18 4TS

Lunch own arrangements. There are two pubs fairly close.
The Fox Inn Barrington 01451 844385 www.foxinnbarrington.com
The Lamb Inn Rissington 01451 820385 www.thelambinn.com
Numerous places in Burford

14.15- 15.00 Taynton Oxon. St. John Evangelist
Bells 6 6cwt 0qtr 27lb in Bb
OS grid ref. SP234135 Post Code OX18 4UB

15.30-16.15 Fulbrook Oxon. St. James Great
Bells 6 4cwt 0qtr 13lb in C
OS grid ref. SP258130 Post Code OX18 4BN

16.45- 17.30 Asthall Oxon St. Nicholas
Bells 6 6cwt 0qtr 10lb in B
OS grid ref. SP287114 Post Code OX18 4HW

There will be ringing for all standards but we do ask that you are able to handle a bell.
In addition to rounds and call changes we will hopefully be able to at least attempt the methods listed for the special practices.
If you are able to come it would be helpful if you could let me know jphaseldine33@gmail.com

Richard

Word attachment below:

bicester branch outing 20190427

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Branch Practice at Weston on the Green 7th February 2019

Eleven ringers from six towers attended last night’s Branch Practice at Weston on the Green, the first for several years. Amongst the team were four local ringers, Mandy, Gerald and Andrew being recruits from last year. Officers were also well represented, with both Ringing Masters, el Presidente Willie Haynes, Vice-President, Secretary and your correspondent.

We started off with rounds and call changes with Mandy, Gerald and Andrew, then a number of courses of Plain Hunt on 5 for Andrew and Gerald, who have just started learning it at other towers.

Next up was a nicely-struck touch of Grandsire Doubles, including Sally, Kathryn, Teresa, Richard, Steve and Jeremy, then another set of call changes for the Weston Ringers.

Feeling encouraged, we bravely attempted a couple of courses of Stedman Doubles, including Willie, however, Willie’s hands were suffering somewhat, so we had to abort.

After a final set of call changes, with improving striking, we rang down and a number of us went to the pub.

Please note that the Branch AGM is at Kirtlington at 6pm on 16th February. Hope to see lots of you there!

Steve Vickars

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Branch Practice 8th January 2019 at Bicester

Twenty-two ringers from nine towers and three branches attended tonight’s first Branch Practice of 2019 at Bicester. Officers of Branch and Guild were well represented, with Ringing Master, Deputy Ringing Master and Secretary; we were also honoured to welcome Katie Lane our Guild Ringing Master, as well as Colin, our area Steward plus four other experienced ringers from Adderbury, who are currently having work on their tower.

We started with rounds and call changes on nine, including Gus, Sue, Fay and Chris, followed by Plain Hunt on 7, for Sue and a first for Gus.

With a very capable group of ringers we were able to practice a number of touches of Plain Bob Triples with Kathryn, Ellie, Ian and Jan, a nice touch of Stedman Triples, called by Richard, as well as plain courses of Plain Bob Major and Plain Bob Caters (nine working bells).

For Ann and Ellie we rang a touch of Plain Bob Minor and we also had time to return to Plain Hunt on 7 for Gus, Sue and Anne, before ringing down the back eight in peal.

Sadly this was Ellie’s last Branch Practice with us before she moves up to Yorkshire. Best of luck to you, Ellie! Come back and ring with us again soon!

Next Branch Practice is on Thursday 7th February at Weston on the Green. Hope you can come and support the new band of ringers there.

Happy New Year to you all!

Steve Vickars

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Special Practice Monday 17th September 2018, Kirtlington

There was a good turnout of thirteen ringers at Monday’s Special Practice at Kirtlington, including Judith and Tim who rang some good touches of Plain Bob Doubles, Tim on observation bell.

It was good to welcome James, Hugh, Judy and Benjamin, from Marston, Ron, Jeremy, Kathryn, Sally Wale and Freddie.

Rosemarie gained some good experience trebling to Bob Doubles and Ringing the 2 to Grandsire Doubles, as well as covering to Bob Doubles on the 6, adjusting to the springy new rope. A more experienced team also successfully completed a touch of Grandsire Doubles.

Sally rang some plain courses of Bob Doubles on the 2.
As we had numbers we rang a couple of courses of Grandsire Triples, including James and Kathryn, also including an attempted touch, as well as an attempted plain course of Kent Minor requested by Kathryn.

After an attempted short touch of Bob Minor we rang some Plain Hunt on 7, before ringing down.

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Bicester Branch Striking Competition 01/09/2018

Twenty five people, including ringers and non-ringers attended this year’s striking competition, hosted by Kathryn and the Islip ringers at Islip, within easy earshot of the tower. It was good to see so many current and former ringers as well as friends of the branch there.

While only two towers – Ludgershall and Islip – could bring teams composed of their own ringers, in the end five separate teams were mustered, including a “harlequin” team, a ladies’ and a gentlemen’s team.

First up were Islip, who after their one minute of rounds rang 120 changes of call changes. They scored a total of 60 points.

Next to ring were Ludgershall, last year’s winners, who rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles for their piece, scoring  41 Points.

The Harlequin scratch team rang a touch of Plain Bob Doubles, scoring 73 points.

The ladies’ team, which included three branch officers did somewhat better, ringing three plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, scoring 64 points.

Finally, the gentlemen’s team, led by Richard and also comprising a number of Branch officers, rang a touch of Plain bob Doubles, scoring 28 points and winning the trophy.

It is interesting to note that the formation of ladies’ and gentlemen’s teams seemed to bring out a previously undetected amount of competitive, although friendly, spirit amongst some of the participants.

During and after the competition there was a fine selection of barbecued food, salads, puddings and drinks on offer in Kathryn’s garden. A big thank you to Fifi for “manning” the barbecue.

Thanks should also be made to Willie, our president, for timekeeping in the tower and of course to Philip Curtis, who expertly judged the teams’ efforts.

Detailed results are included below.

Team E (Gentlemen) 8 + 20 = 28
Team B (Ludgershall) 8 + 33 = 41
Team A (Islip) 13 + 47 = 60
Team D (Ladies) 14 + 50 = 64
Team C (Harlequin) 13 +60 = 73

Key: First number is for the rounds and 2nd number for everything after.

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Special Practice 17th July 2018 at Islip

14 ringers from 6 towers came to Tuesday night’s special practice at Islip – we were delighted to see the perpetually youthful Louise Brown who was such a stalwart welcome visitor for many years.

Although we were missing 5 other Islip ringers, we had 4 of our most recent #RingingRemembers learners who might have felt overwhelmed by the attempts of the more established to ring the designated method of Kent Treble Bob Minor (slightly more successfully on the 2nd attempt) but all are making steady progress. Without our learners we won’t, in the future, be able to ring Grandsire and Bob Triples – both of which we managed for the first time for ages under the direction of both Ringing and Deputy Ringing Masters!  So something for everyone – even if not enough time for all!

Two upcoming events are Branch Practice on 3 August at Ludgershall and the Striking competition at Islip on 1st September. Hope to see lots of you then.

Kathryn Grant

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Special Practice at Bicester 14th May 2018

12 ringers from 8 different towers within the Bicester Branch (i.e. members from 50% of all towers) came to the Special Practice on Monday at Bicester. The methods specified for the evening were Little Bob Minor and Grandsire Triples.

We started by ringing call changes on all 10 bells, and then Grandsire Triples, Plain Bob Minor plus ringing Plain Bob Major – congratulations especially to Ellie, from Kirtlington, who got through a plain course with some expert help from other ringers including Richard Haseldine, who managed to keep about three bells right at the same time!

It was good to see Sue, from Wotton, who rang plain hunt on 5 with increasing confidence.

The next Branch Practice is on Wednesday 6 June at Middleton Stoney – do come along if you can. The range of expertise is considerable which makes it all the more rewarding and interesting.

Kathryn Grant

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Branch Practice Stratton Audley 4th April 2018

At a showery evening showery four ringers at a time gathered for the April Branch Practice at Stratton Audley. Perhaps it was the combination of inclement weather, a much publicised UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match, or the challenging bells at Stratton Audley (not so challenging as some might have you believe), that numbers were low.

The first shift included our Ringing and Deputy Ringing Masters, Ann Martin and Alison from Stratton Audley, ringing Plain Hunt for Alison. I joined the group just before Alison went home. We then proved that even four can have fun at methods by firstly ringing a few plain courses of Plain Bob Minimus and then Stedman on four (Treble hunting up, making 6 blows behind, down to lead again; the other three bells do the front work, followed by 6 blows behind), with everyone having at least one turn on a working bell.

Good luck to Ann and Ellie who will be going on the Radley course Saturday 7th to do Plain Bob Minor.

Our next event is the Branch Outing on 21st April, starting at 10am at Drayton. Hope to see you then!

Steve Vickars

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Oxford City Branch Practice 2 April 2018 at Kirtlington

St Mary's, Kirtlington

Twelve ringers from eight towers and three Branches braved the flooded roads to attend Easter Monday morning’s Branch Practice at Kirtlington. Although slightly down on strength from January’s practice at the same venue, we still benefitted from the conducting skills of Hugh, Paul and Malcolm.

We rang an extensive repertoire of methods including:

  • A couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples
  • An attempted plain course of Plain Bob Major
  • A few courses of Plain Bob Triples for Andrew
  • Two touches of Grandsire Triples, including one for the correspondent
  • A few touches of Plain Bob Minor for Andrew
  • A couple of plain courses of Stedman Triples including a first go for yours truly.

All in all, a good practice.

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Special Practice Bletchingdon 14th March 2018

13 ringers from 7 towers and 3 branches attended last night’s Special Practice at Bletchingdon. First up, we concluded Rory’s handling session with him ringing rounds and call changes in the team. Well done Rory.

Next we rang some plain courses of Grandsire doubles for Jean, Hilary and Ann, followed by a few plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles for Judith and Sue. For Brenda, Derek and Rosemarie we rang a number of courses of Plain Hunt on 5, emphasising places. All did well.

After a touch of Grandsire involving Ann, Jan, Jeremy, covered by Brenda and called by Richard, we attempted a touch of Plain Bob Minor, but unfortunately weren’t quite strong enough.

With Brenda, Derek, Ernie and Rosemarie in the band we rang Kaleidoscope Mexican Wave, each dodging with the neighbouring bell.

Finally we rang a few plain courses of Bob Doubles with Sue and Judith inside, as well as another few courses of Grandsire for Jean, Hilary and Tim.

Next Branch Practice is at Stratton Audley on 4th April. Hope to see lots of you there.