Jane Singleton, née Danson, 1939 – 3 September 2025

Local ringers will be sad to hear of the death of Jane Singleton, who learnt to ring in London but rang her first quarter of Grandsire (Doubles?) in Islip, where she had lived in The Rise, on 10 November 1968. Subsequently she moved to Fringford and after her marriage to Chris (whom she taught with their daughter Elinor) she rang at Bicester and Caversfield for many years always volunteering for weddings and special occasions and joining Branch outings when she could. As Fay Harris says, ‘Jane was a very good ringer and remembers her useful pointers e.g. in Grandsire, pass the treble, pass the next bell (must be the other hunt bell) and do something with the next – then work out where you are!’

Jane encouraged many to ring – with medical friends in the early days in Islip – and records show the peal of Grandsire Triples on 4 July 1998 to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NHS and the first peal in the method for the Guild of Medical Ringers. Again, as Fay says, ‘You could always rely on Jane: somehow she was just there’.

Her funeral will be at 2pm on Wednesday 1st October at North Oxfordshire Crematorium, Tackley – anyone planning to attend should let Jeremy Adams or Teresa Carter know.

First Quarter Peal rung by Local Kirtlington band 17.08.2025

On Sunday 17th August Andy, Julie, Judith, Christine, Charlie and Steve secured a first quarter peal by a purely local band to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the resumption of regular ringing at Kirtlington.

It is a special achievement to ring that length of time having to rely on one’s own concentration to keep right. It has taken a fair time to get to this point, but it is well worth it!

Many congratulations to all!

The Bellboard entry is at: https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/view.php?id=1877743

ODG Michaelmas Course, Saturday 27th September 2025

Based in East Berks and South Bucks Branch and nearby branches

Saturday 27th September, 2025
10.00 – 18.00
Cost £20

This course is designed to provide opportunities for students to learn and practise more advanced methods than those offered on the Radley and Steeple Aston courses.

The day will start with a tutorial at the first tower followed by a practical
session and further ringing, usually at two other nearby towers.

Depending on demand, groups will be formed to cover the following
options:

  • Stedman Triples (entry level Stedman Doubles/Grandsire Triples)
  • Surprise Minor (entry level Treble Bob Minor)
  • Basic Surprise Major – to include Cambridge and Yorkshire (entry
  • level Cambridge Minor/Treble Bob Major)
  • Advanced Surprise/Delight Major – selected methods from the ‘core seven Pickled Egg’ and ‘Standard Eight’ (entry level Cambridge/Yorkshire Major)

Further details and application forms are available from the secretary of
the Learning and Development Workgroup:

Robert Newton
11 Plowden Park
Aston Rowant
Watlington
OX49 5SX
Tel.: 01844 352926
Email: edsecretary@odg.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 23rd August 2025

ODG Steeple Aston Ringing Course – 25th October 2025

Bicester Branch members….

Are you learning plain hunt, bob doubles or grandsire doubles, want some more practice, or want to move on to triples or major? The Steeple Aston course is the ringing course for you!

Application forms are available from Louise Gill (louise.k.gill@gmail.com). Please submit your completed application form to Louise Gill by the closing date of 31 August 2025. Cost £37* which includes tower donations and a two course evening meal.

* If you are in full time education, the ODG will cover 50% of the cost.

Branch Outing to Northamptonshire, Saturday 26 April 2025

Our Branch Outing, arranged by Richard Haseldine, took us to five towers in Northamptonshire – Staverton, Badby, Newnham, Flore and Greens Norton.

All were chosen for their easy going – and two with ground-floor rings (much appreciated).

Nineteen ringers, including two visiting ringers from Faringdon and Hanslope, from six Branch towers came – with two non-ringers and three dogs.

Again, there was something for everyone and we all enjoyed the ringing and each other’s company.

Arriving at Staverton

2025 AGM Guild Reports and Minutes from 2024

Held in St Mary’s Church, Kirtlington, on Saturday 17th February 2024

Hear the Launton Handbell Ringers

On Thursday 12 September at 7.30pm, at Islip Village Hall, come and hear the Launton Handbell Ringers (drawn from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Northamptonshire) who have given recitals in cathedrals, civic centres, theatres as well as on radio and television. Their repertoire includes traditional and folk music, popular classics, children’s nursery rhymes as well as secular music.

45-50 minutes of music and time for questions with the opportunity to have ‘a go’ at ringing 4 in hand!

Donations by cash or card – refreshments available too!

More details from Teresa Carter or Kathryn Grant

Branch Practice at Ambrosden 7 February 2024

At last night’s BP twelve ringers from nine towers (including two visitors) came to ring at Ambrosden where a number of newer ringers are practising regularly on a Tuesday morning – contact Steve Walker for more details or Jill Colyer (Churchwarden jill.colyer12@gmail.com).

We rang a remarkable number of methods mostly on all 8 bells – Rounds and Plain Hunt, followed by Bob Major, Stedman Triples (tenor ably rung by Marcus) and the piece de resistance a touch of Reverse Canterbury Doubles when, teenagers, Marcus rung the 5th and William rang the treble! How good it is to see such enthusiasm and encouragement from the Branch for our youthful ringers.

Thank you to all who came and especially to Richard and Jeremy (suffering a bad back) for a great evening.

Kathryn

Branch Practice at Piddington on 24 January 2024

Eight members from five towers came – Cheryl was the only local ringer but was persuaded to revive former skills. We rang call changes, plain hunt and Grandsire Doubles – which was good practice for those who ring more regularly with the tenor behind. Ringing down we finished in Weasels!

Apparently there are two or three people in the village who would like to learn and, hearing the bells rung (the first time since Morwen Ashton’s funeral in June) might increase that number. With learners at nearby Ambrosden, being taught by Steve Walker, perhaps putative Piddington ringers might join there and revive ringing in time at their home tower

Kathryn Grant