ODG Central Bucks Branch

On Saturday 15^th June 2019 the bellringers of St Michael and all Angels, Stewkley, hosted a Plain Hunt Training Morning. Ringers from the local area ringing at the appropriate level were invited to bring a more experienced friend with them and join in.  We had 5 ringers from Stewkley, 5 ringers from Wing, 2 from Leighton Buzzard, 3 from Great Brickhill, 1 from Quainton, 1 from Soulbury, 1 from Winslow, 1 from Woughton and 1 from Chearsley – 20 in all.

The session began with a theory session with everyone “writing out” the method to help to understand the structure of change ringing.  The ringers fell roughly into 3 categories – 7 were “teachers” , 4 had been plain hunting for a while but needed confidence and 6 just starting out on learning plain hunt. 1 ringer enjoyed the theory session but had to leave before ringing, 1 was unable to ring through injury but assisted teaching and 1 ringer was just at the bell handling stage of learning but was keen to start to understand the theory.

The session ran from 10am and finished slightly late at around 12.45pm.   By the end of the session the 4 ringers who were already started learning had progressed to ringing a number of different bells and joining courses together, which some had not achieved before. The 6 just learning all managed to get through several individual courses and all of them rang at least 2 consecutive courses.

The session ended with a private handling session so everyone that wanted to had a ring.

I would like to thank everyone who came along:  

the teachers – Jeremy, Jenni, Sally, Simon, David, Ed and Bunt

and the learners – Dan, John, James, Paul, Maeve, Neil, Hollie, Alexandria, Gill, Joe, Dee and Suzanne

Tea, coffee and cake was enjoyed by all.

Ailsa Knightley

Ringing Master at Stewkley

Deputy Ringing Master CBB

The Guild AGM this year is in being hosted by our neighbours in the Chiltern Branch at Great Missenden.

There will be ringing at several towers in the area and a buffet lunch in the village.

The highlight is a Songs of Praise service at which the Preacher is the Right Revd. Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham. At the business meeting there is a chance to hear about and participate in the changes that are happening in the Guild.

Names for lunch should be sent to Edwina Carpenter
(01442 890993; email edwinacarpenter56@gmail.com
by Wednesday 15th May.

A poster with full details has been sent to your tower correspondent, but in summary, the timetable for the day is:

10:30am – 12:30pm: Ringing at neighbouring towers 

12:30 – 1:30pm: Buffet Lunch at Great Missenden

1:00 – 1:45pm: Ringing at Great Missenden

2:00pm: Songs of Praise at St Peter & St Paul, Great Missenden (Preacher:Bishop of Buckingham)

3:00pm: Annual General Meeting in the Church, followed by further ringing there.

Spring has arrived and here are the ringing plans for the month of April.

Saturday 13th May we shall have a branch practice at Winslow.  This is at 10.30 am as the church is not available on Saturday evenings.  There will be a focus on plain hunting on both 6 and 8 as requested but the tower, but we will also hope to ring a range of other methods – Please come along if you can.

Wednesday 24th April will be the progressors practice at Haddenham.  Do join us if you are learning Stedman triples or moving on into simple Surprise Major.

Nationally it is St George’s day on Tuesday 23rd and as ever we are encouraged to ring on this day if possible, perhaps a good excuse for a quarter peal?

Finally, let us hope to have as many of our bells as possible rung on Easter Morning, 21st!  If you need help please let one of the officers know to see if they can find additional ringers available for your service ringing.

Saturday11th May is the date for this year’s striking competition which will be held at Cuddington where the back 6 will be used for ringing. These are lovely, easy going bells and not very heavy, so plenty of towers should feel able to have a go.  Please put the date in your diaries now!

Remember  – this is a competition to produce the best sounding ringing.  Good call changes always sound better outside than poorly struck doubles. Obviously those bands who can manage doubles and minor well should ring those, but for the less experienced simple is best!  Decide what you would like to ring now and practice for the next couple of months so that you are ready for the competition day.

Last month saw two of the Aylesbury young ringers reach milestones in their progress on the Learning the Ropes scheme (the blue book!).  Cory has been awarded his level 4 and Aidan his level 3.  Congratulations to them both!  We look forward to seeing more of our newer ringers making similar progress.

This month’s branch practice will be at Marsh Gibbon on Saturday 9th March.  Do come along to ring on this pleasant 5.  Lots of opportunities for our newest members to ring rounds and call changes on 5 bells as well as plenty of doubles for the more experienced.

The Improvers practice will be at Stewkley on Wednesday 27th March.

Annual 6 bell striking competition

Saturday 12^th May

at East Claydon

Draw 2.30pm

Light tea served during the afternoon

And as suggested at the branch AGM……

**BBQ and Branch Social in Claydon’s Mushroom Club after the results**

If your tower cannot raise a full band, still come along for an enjoyable afternoon and we will put together non-competitive teams on the afternoon.

Or 

Come along for the latter part of the day and enjoy meeting friends at the BBQ from 5.30pm approx

Entries and numbers for tea and /or BBQ to Anne Pratt by Wednesday 9^th May please  01844 201611

A reminder that the branch competition will be held at East Claydon on Saturday 12th May.  All towers are encouraged to enter a team (or two!).  You do not have to be able to ring fancy methods as this is about the quality of the striking, so good call changes is better than bad bob doubles!  Find six people who would like to come out for this fun and sociable afternoon (yes there will be a proper ringers tea) and then decide what you can ring well.  If you need any help contact one of the branch officers who can give advice on anything from calling call changes to finding one more person to make up your band.

Having had a break last month because of Holy Week, the new Improvers 8-bell practice is back this month at Stewkley.  Joining the normal practice, but with a focus on Stedman Triples and simple Surprise Major, anyone looking to move on from Plain Bob and Grandsire is welcome, but please come having looked at the blue line!  Next month will be at Haddenham on 24th May  (4th Wednesday)