December 2005
Happy Birthday Banbury Branch
The development of the Banbury Branch
(some markers along the way)
1896 – June 20th first Branch in the area set up called the Deddington Deanery Branch
October first branch meeting at Adderbury
1903 – Branch disbanded with only eighteen members and five towers
1925 – June agreed at a meeting in Banbury to form the Banbury and District Branch
Seven towers affiliate and R. Lewis becomes the first secretary
1931 – Edward Pearson becomes secretary a post he holds for 25 years
1948 – Branch struggles with only 14 members attending a quarterly meeting
1950 – Guild remarks on how few young ringers there are in the Branch
1956 – Secretary reported that a lot of recruiting and of training ringers had taken place
1958 – First Branch Dinner
1964 – First Branch Striking competition
1970 – First Branch Course
1971 – First Branch Newsletter published
Branch Ringing Festival
1979 – First inter branch Cricket match
1981 – First 10 bell peal by a Branch band
1985 – Thurlestone bell Orchestra performed at St. Mary’s Banbury as part of the 60th Anniversary of the Branch
1999- Two day ringing school
2002 – Mini Minorz group formed
2003 – First ‘Firsts Day’
To celebrate the 80th Anniversary quarter peals was rung in as many towers as possible in the Branch. In the event quarters were scored in all the towers except three and one was rung outside the Branch. There was also a peal of Grandsire Caters at Banbury which was rung as near to June 20th as possible (June 18th). The occasion will be marked with a peal board at Banbury. In total 53 Branch ringers took part in the ringing and of these 25 rang two or more quarters. More details about the formation of the branch can be found at
Banbury
18 June in 3hrs 02 mins
5039 Grandsire Caters
Composed by: A M Tyler
2 E Susan Burchell / 7 John Lindsay
3 Rosemary K Hemmings / 8 Michael J Tinsley
4 Alan J Griffin / 9 Graham J Clifton
5 Robert A Reeves / 10 Barry J Davis
Conducted by Graham J Clifton
1st Peal on 10 for 1 and 8. Rung to mark the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Banbury Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild on 20th June 1925.
The following quarters were rung:
Rousham, Oxon. 8 Jun, 1320 Cambridge S Minor: Abbott Conway 1, Christine Cox 2, Diana Reeves 3, Alan Griffin 4, Robert Reeves 5, John Lindsay (C) 6. 1st of Treble Bob 1.
North Aston, Oxon. 8 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Lindsey Smith 1, Heather Hughes 2 Joan Warren (C) 3, John Temple 4, John Lindsay 5, Edward Stear 6.
Steeple Aston, Oxon. 12 Jun, 1260 PBob Doubles: Ellen Lane 1, Diana Gardner 2, Dorothy Clifton 3, Lawrence White 4, Graham Clifton (C) 5, Nick Powell 6. First quarter 1.
Sandford St Martin, Oxon. 16 Jun, 1260 Doubles (8 m): John Temple 1, Christine Cox 2, Joan Warren 3, Jane Broadbent 4, John Lindsay (C) 5, Roger Stranks 6. For Evensong, 600th Quarter 5, 150th together 3 and 5.
Lower Heyford, Oxon. 15 Jun, 1260 PB Minor: Alan Griffin 1, Lindsey Smith 2, Sarah Conway 3, Christine Cox 4, John Temple 5, John Lindsay (C) 6.
Kirtlington, Oxon. 16 Jun, 1280 Yorkshire Surprise Major: Graham Clifton 1, Joan Warren 2, Jane Broadbent 3, Catherine Stanworth 4, David Bennett 5, Michael Tinsley 6, John Lindsay (C) 7, Josh Eldridge 8.
Somerton, Oxon. 17 Jun, 1280 PB Major: Barry Davis (C) 1, Joan Warren 2, Christine Cox 3, Catherine Stanworth 4, Malcolm Hensher 5, John Temple 6, Michael Tinsley 7, Graham Clifton 8.
Mollington, Oxon. 17 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Ann Cubitt 1, Diana Reeves 2, Graham Reeves 3, Barrie Salter 4, Robert Reeves (C) 5, Edward Stear 6. First quarter 1.
Steeple Barton, Oxon. 19 Jun, 1260 Doubles (4m): Sue Burchell 1, Joan Warren 2, John Lindsay 3, John Temple 4, Graham Clifton (C) 5.
Great Tew, Oxon. 20 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Sarah Conway 1, Heather Hughes 2, Joan Warren 3, Abbott Conway 4, Sue Burchell (C) 5, Roger Stranks 6.
Wardington, Oxon. 22 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Dick Beer 1, Brenda Day 2 Andries Bosland 3, Keith Abbott (C) 4, John Temple 5, Stephen Day 6.
Tadmarton, Oxon. 23 Jun, Doubles (4 m): Alison Saunders 1, Martin Saunders 2, Lindsey Smith 3, Christine Cox 4, Robert Reeves ( C ) 5, Ian Rodrick 6.
Steeple Aston, Oxon. 26 Jun, 1260 Grandsire Triples: Lawrence White 1, Diana Gardner 2, Vicky Clifton 3, Dorothy Clifton 4, Malcolm Hensher 5, Mick Journeaux 6, Graham Clifton (C) 7, Nick Powell 8. For patronal festival evensong
Cropredy, Oxon. 27 Jun, 1260 Doubles (2m): Dick Beer 1, Keith Abbott (C) 2, Andries Bosland 3, Stephen Day 4, John Temple 5 Les Underdown 6. 40th wedding anniversary compliment to Stephen and Brenda Day.
South Newington, Oxon. 28 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Terry Cowell 1, Alison Varney 2, Isabel Hands 3, Keith Abbott (C) 4, Alan Griffin 5.
Duns Tew, Oxon. 29 Jun, 1260 PB Doubles: Heather Hughes 1, Pat Adcock 2, Sarah Conway 3, Sue Burchell (C) 4, Roger Stranks 5.
Bodicote, Oxon. 3 Jul, 1280 Lincolnshire Surprise Major: Diana Reeves 1, Jane Broadbent 2, Joan Warren 3, Christine Cox 4, Catherine Stanworth 5, Robert Reeves 6, John Lindsay (C)7, John Stanworth 8. For evensong.
Adderbury, Oxon. 10 Jul, 1260 PB Doubles: Trish Fennell 1, Chris Wardley 2, Julia Swift 3, Trevor Trivett 4, Chris Holmes (C) 5, John Holt 6. Rung to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War and the 80th Anniversary of the Branch
Shenington, Oxon. 12 Jul, 1260 Doubles (3m): Robert Reeves 1, Jean Davis 2, John Temple 3, Alan Griffin 4, Barry Davis (C) 5. To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Banbury Branch and remembering the victims of the bombing in London on 7 July.
Happy 50th birthday to Graham Clifton
Is this the start of the Clifton mini-ring!!?!!
Overheard in a tower near you
Don’t you dare fall on me Alan!“We’ll ring Grandsire Triples”
I couldn’t remember whether I’d done the leady bits“Let’s have some air in”
That rope was so long you could knit with it.“Have we changed to Erin?”
It would be embarrassing if the spire fell off.
Around Towers
the
Branch Carol Service.
The Branch Advent Carol Service on Saturday December 3rd. at Bodicote was well attended. The evening consisted of carols and bible readings as well as solo sung by Margaret Stear, a poem read by Martin Warner, an organ voluntary played by Michael Tinsley and carols rung on the handbells by Steeple Aston and Great Tew Handbell Ringers. Bodicote bells rang out for about 45 minutes before the service. To finish the evening those attending were invited back to the home of Martin and Veronica Warner for mulled wine and mince pies. Thanks go to Bodicote ringers for hosting the event and to Martin and Veronica for making the arrangements.
The Loughborough Experience
Diary of a day out 16.07.05
Who went – 35 ringers and the boy Tim
Where did they go – Bell Foundry Museum and Works
What did they see – Bells the worse for wear, bells in the making, pits and copes and cores
What did they do – Try out the 6cwt campanile ten with some trepidation
Which other towers did they visit – Loughborough Parish Church (lovely to listen to), Barrow on Soar, (challengingly odd struck), Quorn (nearly no key to enter), Shepshed (hard to spot on a hill top)!
When did they stop – on the way home at the Windmill Badby – good pub, good grub, goodbyes
The three wise………………………..of Mollington?
TOWER MAINTENANCE COURSE.
On the morning of 14th May, five ringers plus one husband, spent a very enjoyable couple of hours in Swalcliffe belfry, being instructed in the art of bell maintenance by Graham Clifton. Alison Saunders, Abbott Conway, David Deacon, Doug Woodward, Rolf Smith and myself had practical experience in such activities as greasing bearings, checking frames, wheels, ropes and clappers. We aim to put our practical skills to good use in the future.
Many thanks to Graham for giving up his Saturday morning. Lindsey Smith
Puzzle Page
Word Play 2
Use bell-ringing terms to complete these well known phrases or sayings
A _ _ _ _ of musiciansA_ _ _ _ of oxenA_ _ _ _ _of plovers
A_ _ _ _ of bells_ _ _ _up the garden path_ _ _ _ your own trumpet
_ _ _ of sorts_ _ for a penny, _ _ for a pound_ _ _ _ in the mouth
Bats in the ______
114
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1
Number Puzzle
Each number clue represents a word associated with change ringing. Fit the word into the grid horizontally and another ringing term will be revealed vertically in the central column.
Striking Competition
A tale of village folk
This year, when the bellringers gathered from across the branch for their annual striking competition, there was a surprise victory for the hitherto little heard of band from Duns Bloxbury.
They beat off strong competition from the local team and three others to win with 28 faults. Sadly the cup was denied them as their team did not comply with competition rules. So the officially recognised winners were Steeple Aston with 30 faults.
Tadmarton, Mollington and Bodicote bands rang well enough to present a challenge but were not quite up to scratch. Mr. White’s lads from Appleton proved to be able judges and were rewarded with thanks and ‘bottles ‘to drink when they got home’. The Social Committee organised the event with their usual fervour but quite forgot to order sunshine; however there was a spectacular fly past during supper. None other person than the Guild Master graced the event with his presence (though some would say it was a bit sneaky of Steeple Aston to commandeer him to make up their numbers!)
The après-ringing gathering was held at Doug and Daphne Woodward’s home, Tile Cottage. As the light faded there was the usual good humoured banter when the first raffle prize went to the Vice Chairman and cries of ‘He’s got a smelly’ were heard as the last number was drawn from the box.
Roll on 2006
English Country Garden
How many ringers move to and fro?
In an English Country garden?
I’ll tell you now of some I know
And those I miss I hope you’ll pardon.
Martin, Doug and Ian then
Alison, Christine and Helen
Martin, Jean and tall John from M
Simon, Roger, Bob and some other men.
In an English Country garden.
Matters arising
Half yearly meeting
We observed a minute’s silence in memory of Anne Bennett a ringer at Adderbury for many years.
Two new members were elected
Graham Clifton reported back from the Guild AGM that the Alison Rodrick trophy had been presented as a ‘young ringer’s award’ and the bell fund had received a significant bequest.
He welcomed at the meeting the new Branch Steward David Joyce
Tower Reps meeting
It was agreed that a general monthly eight bell practice be introduced to meet the needs of those in between learner and surprise ringer stages and that these could alternate with the six bell practices
Joan has a Branch copy of the Guild Gazetteer CD
Dates
2006
17th January - 125th Anniversary of the Guild
21st January - Quiz night, Tadmarton
4th February - Car outing probably Bedford
11th March - Branch Dinner
25th March - Triples Course
22nd April - AGM Steeple Aston
Trafalgar Ringing
Towers throughout the Branch rang on the weekend of October 21st to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar.
60th Anniversary of the end of World War 11
Towers in the Banbury Branch rang out at 5.00pm on Sunday July 10th to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War 11. The 10 bells at Banbury rang out across the town. The local band was assisted by Bloxham ringers whose bells were out of action due to work on the spire. At Adderbury a quarter peal was rung for this and to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Branch. The Great Tew ringers and friends rang a quarter at Sandford St. Martin at 5.00pm and then moved on to Great Tew where another quarter was successfully rung. These quarters were also dedicated to the victims of the London bombings.
At Steeple Aston there was general ringing between 5 and 6pm. This gave the Lane family, the Canadian's who took up ringing last year, a chance to join in. Their Grandfather had served in the war and they wanted to be part of the celebrations.
There were good turn outs at Cropredy, Bodicote, Deddington, Mollington and Somerton with the bells ringing out at 5.00pm. Duns Tew was unable to ring until 6.30pm as the ringers were involved in the church fete during the afternoon. Tadmarton rang in the morning, helped by Bodicote ringers. In the evening the Tadmarton ringers returned the favour.
On Monday July11th Banbury bells and ringers could be seen and heard on BBC South Today as part of a series of features during the week about peoples memories of the end of the war.