Category: Special Practice

On Monday 20th August 6 ringers from the north end of the branch met for the first practice at Caversfield for many years. The methods we concentrated on were Plain Bob Doubles (rang superbly) and Stedman Doubles (technically a ‘principle’, not a ‘method’) which we had far more difficulty with (partly as one of our number was ringing Stedman Minimus!).. but eventually (and to Jane’s pleasure as that was her aim for the evening) we succeeded in ringing that a number of times without mistakes.

I would say it was nice to let the village hear Caversfield’s bells, but as the church is outside the village I shall have to settle for enjoying ringing the lovely 5 bells and that perhaps someone might have heard us.

Next practice is at cosy Launton on 4th Sep, and then we have the branch social, bbq and striking competition on Sat 15th Sep in Islip.. tickets available from Teresa, Kathryn or Anthony. If last year is anything to go by it will be a fun evening.. and let’s see if we can get a tower band to beat the branch officers who won last year 🙂

Anthony Cole

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.

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)!

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

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 🙂

Monday 19th March was the special practice at Bicester. We had 7 ringers (the Bicester band + regular visitor) which left us unable to attempt Grandsire Triples. We started with some Treble dodging practice for the Treble ringer to get her eye in before attempting Kent TB Minor. Sadly after a number of  attempts it was clear Kent wasn’t going to work 🙁 Instead we rang plain courses of Grandsire, a touch of Plain Bob Doubles, some Plain Bob Minor before retiring to the pub.

The Bicester ringers are hosting a coffee morning in St Edburgs this coming Saturday (24th March) if anyone would like a cuppa and a cake (proceeds to the church), and then in 2 weeks time (Sat 31st) we have the Branch Outing – hope to see a few more people at that.

On Monday 16th Jan 9 ringers (8 from Bicester) practiced St Simon’s Doubles and Plain Bob Minor. The methods were new to some, but good progress and experience was had by all, and (albeit with a crack band, plus a few watching carefully to see how it worked) we did manage a 120 of St Simon’s. Well done everyone 🙂

On Monday 21st Nov 9 ringers (2 from Fringford, 1 from Stratton Audley and 6 from Bicester) banded together for the Plain Bob and Reverse Canterbury Doubles practice at Bicester.

Following a well struck “up”, we managed plain courses of Reverse Canterbury Doubles, touches of Plain Bob Doubles, touches of Reverse Canterbury Doubles (well done Sarah, Jeremy & Steve and a special congrats to Fay who had spent the afternoon learning the bobs and rang them without any problems:) ) and even managed a plain course of Reverse Canterbury Minor! Haven’t rung that for years, but there were no mistakes and it was well struck too 🙂 “Down” was as well struck as “up” so a great practice all round. For those who couldn’t make it.. you missed a belter!

Next practice, Charlton on Otmoor on Wed 7th Dec (note 7:45pm start time!!)