of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers
The Branch Outing for 2013 will be to the Newbury area on Saturday 23rd March. Please put the date in your diary.
Update 20130223: Great Shefford now require building work so have cancelled. I’m arranging an alternate tower and pub – revised details available as soon as confirmed.
Do please mention this to everyone you can – it would be great to see lots of ringers to make the outing more interesting for everyone.
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.
A car outing to the Towcester area has been arranged for Saturday 31st March. Details of the towers can be found on the Outing 2012 Poster.
If you plan to attend please let Anthony know he has so a rough idea of expected numbers. As with previous outings, non-ringing family members and pets (I’m thinking dogs rather than hamsters!) are more than welcome to come along and join us at the towers and for the pub lunch etc.
Eleven bellringers joined in the Bicester Branch Spring outing arranged by Anthony Cole. We were disappointed that Samuel and Grace Cole weren’t also part of the party as they tend to write the more entertaining reports of our outings but glad that their absence meant that Sarah Cole was able to do more ringing than on recent occasions!
However the first ring at all Saints, Middleton Cheney nearly caused all those present to call it a day immediately – the heavy bells and rather springy ropes challenged most of us but, undaunted, we then rang the lighter bells at Chacombe before relaxing over lunch at the George & Dragon – a great find!
At the enjoyable ground floor ring of Cropredy we discovered that our audience had contained Prunella Scales and Timothy West – an inversion of the more normal status quo! Those in the non-ringing party (including the three canine members) were able to enjoy the sun and a local bookfair before we left for Mollington and a, thankfully, light six.
It was especially good to have our Branch President, the redoubtable Willie Haynes, with us following a bout of ill health. Thank you from all of us, Anthony, for giving everyone a great day – and to those who opened their towers for us.
Kathryn Grant
A write-up of the outing will appear shortly.