Category: Special Practice

The Bletchingdon branch practice was a great teaching session for the local band. 11 ringers (some from Kidlington, Bicester, Islip and our Guild Steward Colin with Zoe from the Banbury Branch) assisted the locals ringing plain courses and touches of Grandsire Doubles much of the evening, with Plain hunt on 6, a touch of Plain Bob Minor, and a plain course of Stedman Doubles to to give us a little variety. A great practice on a lovely set of bells with at least 7 lovely people (according to the tower captain!!! :o)

Next practice is the Plain Bob and Reverse Canterbury Doubles at Bicester on the 21st Nov – looking forward to it  🙂

On Tuesday 18th Oct 7 ringers met for the Plain Bob and Grandsire Triples practice at Islip. Unfortunately we didn’t have a band for the planned methods, but we made good use of the evening ringing  touches of Plain Bob Minor, Grandsire Doubles, plain courses of St Simon’s Doubles, and attempted Kent TB Minor. A good evening with some useful practice at some less regularly rung methods.

On Monday 19th Sept the special practice was attended by just the Bicester band, including one new ringer to the area. We rang Grandsire Doubles (plain courses and touches), Plain Bob Doubles (again plain courses and touches) and a touch of Stedman Doubles which we were very pleased with. A few trips in the methods, but that is why we practice 🙂

Next branch event is the Bicester branch practice on Mon 3rd Oct.. do come along and help the Ringing master celebrate his 40th birthday (the next day).. I think we may have to visit the pub afterwards!

On Tuesday 16th August 9 ringers (7 from the Bicester Branch plus 2 from W&W) had an evening ringing Plain Bob Minor. It became a joke to say: “What shall we ring now?” .. “How about Plain Bob Minor!”. We rang plain courses, and touches with bobs and singles. A useful practice, but it did seem we got worse as the evening went on, rather than better!

Branch social is next on 3rd Sept (with Striking Competition).

What a good practice! 14 ringers turned up (mostly) primed to ring Grandsire Doubles & Triples. We had lots of plain courses of Grandsire Doubles, a couple of plain courses of Grandsire Triples and then (in what must be a first for several years) a 168 change touch of Grandsire Triples! Also Jane tried the observation bell for Grandsire Doubles & Ernie tried the 2 for plain courses of Grandsire Doubles. We also rang plain hunt on 7. A useful teaching session that will hopefully move folk on a little and my thanks to all the helpers standing behind the less experienced ringers.

Due to some quite variable attendance at the monthly Bicester Triples & Major practices the format has been changed. The new special practices will alternate between Bicester and Islip, on the 3rd Monday or Tuesday each month. Whilst all types of ringing will be provided, I am going to concentrate on a different method or methods each month so everyone will have something to look up and challenge them. For those trying to learn a particular method please I hope these will also provide a useful teaching resource. The dates/methods for the coming year are thus:

The triples/major practice this month was a fun evening – 9 ringers banded together to ring Grandsire Triples (plain courses), Kent TB Minor, Plain hunt on 7, Treble Bob hunting and we even tried a course of Stedman Triples – one ringer was heard saying: ‘I may not get this entirely right!’, but at least we tried. All in all a very encouraging evening which swept away a large number of cobwebs.

Sadly only 5 people turned up at the February Triples & Major practice so we only rang Doubles and, following a request, Stedman Minimus! I would really like to encourage more people to attend to make these practices useful for everyone.

Anthony Cole
Joint Ringing Master