December 2007

Bells, Boats and Beam Engines

Bellringing is essentially a group activity. On Sundays we meet to fulfil our Church duties. On Practice nights we gather to improve our skills. On other occasions we get together to socialise. In recent years we have enjoyed Branch Outings with a difference – new towers and an extra dimension to tempt us along.

We have been on the London Eye in the fog (incredible engineering – shame about the view!). We kept fit on the Severn Valley Railway (stopping off at various stations to walk to the towers). The Watercress Line was somewhat less energetic but none the less memorable (ring, ride, ring with a thunderstorm backdrop) At Loughborough we learned how the bells we ring are made and what earlier examples looked like.

This year we travelled to the Wiltshire/Berkshire borders in the area of the Kennet and Avon Canal. The outing took place on Saturday July 28th, a warm sunny day but with rain on the way home. The locals welcomed the sound of their bells at Great Bedwyn (26cwt 6). By contrast Wootton Rivers (3cwt 6) was almost a mini ring! Shalbourne (12cwt 6) was hard to find; Kintbury (12cwt 8) was a veritable portrait gallery (of tower outings). Hungerford (12cwt 8) had lovely bells and an immaculate ringing chamber.

The middle of the day was spent at Crofton, home of two steam operated beam engines situated by the canal. We were able to see them in action, admire the view, watch the boats navigate the lock and eat lunch worthy of the good food guide. So where to next year?!

Around Towers the

Adderbury"Summer ringing has been uneventful at Adderbury with the normal overlap of holidays etc meaning that some Sundays we have been unable to ring.However, to give us fresh impetus for the winter we have set our goal as ringing Double Court and Cambridge by the end of the year. Our learners have progressed well and are in various stages of the trials of Bob Doubles.We were joined by three of our ringers from yesteryear (i.e. the sixties) for Remembrance Service ringing for the afternoon service and our quality dramatically improved. Please do visit again!Our Autumn Tower Dinner is due late November, a good turnout is forecast for that event with nearly a full band on the following day. We host the Branch Carol Service on 1st December and are looking forward to the occasion; the mince pies are being prepared as you read this!"

Donald Higham

Having achieved ringing rounds and call changes our learner Laura did a vanishing act and we have lost Eloise to illness again.However we were able to ring to welcome the new Bishop of Oxford. With new lengths and various re-arrangements of ropes we seem to have overcome the problem of ‘stretchy tops’ so do come and join us on a Wednesday practice.

Jean Davis

BanburyThe Sunday band has managed to ring for most services during the summer by staggering their holidays. On several occasions the clock and carillon have attempted to sabotage the ringing but we now have them under control!In June we rang for the Confirmation Service. In July we joined in the celebration of 25 years of twinning with the town of Ermont. The French visitors came up to watch a demonstration of ringing and went away somewhat bemused.There have been more visiting bands and an Oxford Guild team rang a peal in early November. We rang for three weddings and our congratulations go to Catherine Spink who was married on November 3rd.

BloxhamWe have at last got some new learners, and practices have restarted on Friday evenings. The learners can all now handle a bell to rounds and are making good progress, including one who is 83 years old!I have a handling practice on tied bells and the simulator for an hour before the practice each week, which seems very popular. The Cropredy learners visit every week, and they too are making progress with plain hunting. What we are short of at the practices is experienced ringers, so if you are free on a Friday evening you will be extremely welcome if you can come and help. Alan Griffin

Great TewOn Sunday 26 August 2007, the parishes of Great Tew, Little Tew and Over and Nether Worton were stunned to learn of the sudden death of their vicar, the Revd Prof Abbott Conway. Abbott was much loved in the villages and was a great support to many, particularly to Sue when she was preparing for her ordination, and was a regular and valued member of the bellringing team. He will be greatly missed.One way or another, the band at Great Tew has become depleted of late. Joan moved to Cumbria earlier in the year, Sarah is back at

university,Heather has been and will continue to be out of action for several months (although we are pleased to report that she is recovering well) and Sue, after her ordination, has deserted St Michael’s on Sundays to take on her duties as curate at St Leonard’s, Banbury (a one-bell tower!). This means that Sunday ringing is generally suspended apart from the first Sunday of each month when we are grateful to ringers from Duns Tew and elsewhere who help out.

Sue and her family after the ordination service

We aim to ring 8 bells as often as possible on the first Sunday and we try to get a band to go to Sandford after Great Tew to ring for morning service there. We also try to ring for evensong at Sandford on the second Sunday of each month.Practices continue on Monday evenings but, if anyone is away, we often have to cancel. However, we have recently gained new ringers – Alan from Middle Barton, who was elected a member of the Guild in October, and Martin, recently moved to Sandford from Burford – so we manage to keep going (even in the winter months, when the church is a little cold). We are pleased to welcome visitors to our practice but, if anyone is contemplating joining us, please ring Sue on 01608 683255 to check whether we are ringing. The bells are also available for quarter peals (if you can stand the temperature!). Sue Burchell

MollingtonRinging at Mollington is progressing well and we try to have a practice at least once a month. If we can’t all get together, Bob, Ann and Julie go to Tadmarton where they are made most welcome.We also have a new recruit Jenny, who decided it was a case of “ if you can’t beat them join them”, so we are having tied practices as well. This gives Julie the chance to get to grips with ringing up and down.Our new ropes duly arrived and we have been using them now for over six months. They are still rather stiff but if we have the heater on for a while they do get better. Any other suggestions on a postcard please!In June we took part in the striking competition and was very proud not to come last.I think this was only the second time we have had an all Mollington Band. On other occasions we have had to borrow ringers. This was good experience for us.As you all know Julie is very keen so she went on the Steeple Aston Course .The evening before she was a bag of nerves and we thought she might chicken out, but no, she turned up and had an enjoyable day’s ringing. However she came home very tiredWe have had several visiting bands this summer, including one from Warwickshire who very kindly broke the tenor stay. This meant more work for Bob.Handbell ringing has also started again with the ringing of carols getting everyone into the Christmas spirit.Finally congratulations to Ann and Ben who have just celebrated their Ruby Wedding. A Quarter peal is going to be rung in the very near future as Ann wants to ring an inside bell.

Diana Reeves

Steeple AstonSteeple Aston continues to be an active ringing tower though the number of village ringers has diminished somewhat. Of the Tuesday night visitors we sadly miss Rev. Abbott Conway's regular appearances. His strength in plain methods and Stedman had been apparent and he was ready to

embark upon initial surprise methods. His untimely death was a shock to us all. Joan Warren's departure to the north-west too has left a hole in Tuesday evenings, as has, temporarily we hope, Heather Hughes' incapacitation. We much look forward to her return to good health and active ringing. Our thanks to David and Jen Field from Deddington and to Claire Tarrant for frequent Tuesday support and in particular to Mick Journeaux from Kidlington whose regular support on Sundays as well as Tuesdays is so much appreciated. In June Rosemary Lane and daughters revisited Steeple Aston whilst on holiday in. Rosemary capably resumed some plain hunting where she had left off some years previously. It was good to see them again. We now have a curate attached to the benefice, Rev. Sarah Parkinson, wife of the rector of Yarnton. It emerged that she is a lapsed ringer of bygone days so Graham succeeded in inveigling her back to a rope. After a few minutes' hesitant practice she was soon ringing creditable rounds, followed by even more creditable plain hunting. So, a space to be watched. Quarter peals were rung for Rev. Sarah Parkinson's ordination, in commemoration of Rev. Abbott Conway and for a service held here to celebrate marriage in the community, a service of renewal of marriage vows. Several weddings were rung for including Diana Gardner's daughter Samantha, a former ringer herself. The Steeple Aston course was well attended. The Cliftons have asked that, after six years, some other volunteers take over the organisation of the meal afterwards in the village hall. In June Steeple Aston hosted the striking competition and subsequent meal. With great embarrassment and modesty we admit to winning the cup again. Malcolm Hensher

Queen’s Diamond WeddingTowers in the Branch celebrated the Queen and Prince Philip's Diamond Wedding with quarter peals at Banbury, Bodicote, Mollington and Steeple Aston. The bells were also rung at Shenington, Wroxton and Wardington. See website for quarter peal details

Opinions pleaseDoes the newsletter need changing? We know that not everyone looks at the website so some items are necessarily repeated in the newsletter.Do we need to include the information board as most of it goes out on the monthly sheet?Do we need a puzzle page – does anyone do the puzzles?If we are going to record quarter peals we need details from you.Some towers are very quiet – we never hear from you – all the ringing in the Branch matters so let us know you’re still out there!

Abbott Conway

Our Branch Chairman Abbott Conway died suddenly on August 26th. He brought to the branch a rich sense of humour and wisdom. His memorial service on September 8th was attended by hundreds of people including many ringers.Graham Clifton gave a tribute to Abbott some of which is reproduced here.

It was in 1976 that Abbott came to England on sabbatical and wanting to be near Oxford he just happened to arrive at Little Tew, and rented the flat at Grove House next door to the Little Tew Post Office. I was working at Fitt’s in Little Tew at that time and we would often meet when I collected the papers from the Post Office. I must say there were a few rumours went a round that a Professor had moved in to the village. I think people did not know what to make of this, would he be some sort of eccentric or a mad professor carrying out strange experiments? As it turned out we did not have to worry he was just an ordinary chap like the rest of us.We got to know each other and soon after meeting he took up the challenge to learn to ring church bells at Great Tew. He was the first person I taught to handle a bell. Within a year he was elected a member of The Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church bellringers. He must have realized he was going to stick at ringing because instead of paying an annual subscription he decided to pay a one off life subscription. He also rang his first quarter peal within a year.I was very sad when Abbott was about to return to Canada after his sabbatical, as we had become very good friends. I need not have worried as he was to return many times. He also brought Margaret and family over and we had the joy of getting to know them. Catherine started bellringing while they were at Upper Heyford. Shortly before they were due to leave for Canada again Sarah had just about grown tall enough so standing on a large box she had her first lesson. So the Conway family continued to travel between England and Canada until Abbott got the job he most wanted, to be Vicar of the Tews. In 35 years of knowing Abbott I never heard him lose his temper or raise his voice, he was always a good friend and good company to be with. He was always there if you needed him.Ringing gave Abbott a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment. He joined the Cherwell Crinklies, rang two peals and many quarters.I am not sure if there are bells in heaven but if there are I bet Abbott is still struggling with his Stedman Triples.

The following quarters and peals were rung in memory of Abbott:

Steeple Aston, 28 Aug, 1260 Grandsire Triples: 46mins:Lawrence White 1, Heather Hughes 2, Dorothy Clifton 3, Diana Gardner 4, Malcolm Hensher 5, Mick Journeaux 6, Graham J Clifton (C) 7, Nick Powell 8. Remembering Abbott Conway who regularly practiced with us on Tuesday nights, who died Sunday 26th August.

Great Tew, 7th Sept., 1260 Grandsire Doubles 7-6-8 cover: 47 mins:Heather Hughes 1, Sarah Conway 2, Sue Burchell (C) 3, Joe Burchell 4, Alan Burtonwood 5, Sonia Norgrove 6, Roger Stranks 7, Catherine Conway 8. 60th quarter 1.Rung in thanksgiving for the life of Abbott Conway, Vicar of Great Tew 2002 - 07

Tadmarton, 19th. Sept. 1260 Doubles ( 120 St.Simons, 120 St.Martins,  480 Plain Bob, and 540 Grandsire): 40mins:Ann Cubitt 1, John Temple 2, Chris Cox 3, Alan Griffin 4, Robert Reeves (C) 5, Barrie Salter 6,In memory of  Abbott Conway, Branch Chairman who died August 26th.Lindsey Smith would like to be associated with this quarter.

Great Tew, 30th Sept. 1260 Stedman Triples: 45 mins:Mick Journeaux 1, Joan Warren 2, Jane Broadbent 3, Malcolm Hensher 4, Robert Reeves 5, Alan Griffin 6, Graham Clifton (C) 7, Catherine Conway 8.Remembering Abbott Conway.Also to celebrate the ordination of Sue Burchell as Deacon at Oxford Cathedral today,

Oxford Diocesan GuildGreat Tew, Oxon

S. Michael and All AngelsSaturday, 20 October 2007 in 3h (22)

5040 Grandsire TriplesComposed by: J J Parker

                 1 Malcolm Journeaux      5 Robert A Reeves                2 Sarah Conway       6 Graham J Clifton                 3 Claire E Tarrant      7 Alan J Griffin                4 E Susan Burchell      8 Roger Stranks Conducted by Graham J Clifton

1st inside 2. In thanksgiving for the life and friendship of Revd. Prof. Abbott Conway, Vicar of Great Tew and Chairman of the Banbury Branch, ODG. and father of 2nd ringer.Also to celebrate the ordination of Sue Burchell tower captain of Great Tew.Barry Davis and Joan Warren would like to be associated with this peal.

Graham’s full tribute can be read by going to the newspage on the branch website at banbury-bells.org.uk

Abbott's memorial service can be heard at the following link http://www.tewcentre.org.uk/conway/

People and Places

Joan leaves for Cumbria

Farewells were said to Joan Warren recently as she left the area for Cumbria. For the last few years Joan has been Branch Secretary until she retired from the post in April. During her period in office she has been instrumental in taking the branch forward in many ways and we shall miss her commitment and enthusiasm. She has left the Branch to live in the Lake District where, with her sister, she will be running their holiday cottage business. We wish her happiness in the future and hope that once in a while she might visit her friends here in North Oxfordshire. A farewell quarter peal was rung at Great Tew

15 July, 1260 Stedman Triples: 46 min:Joan Warren 1, Sarah Conway 2, Mick Journeaux 3, Lorna Smale 4, Sue Burchell 5, Alan J Griffin 6, Graham J Clifton (c) 7, Robert A Reeves 8. 150th together 6 & 7. With best wishes to Joan Warren on her move to Cumbria.

The photo shows the quarter peal band. 

Congratulations to Heather

At the risk of embarrassing our secretary Heather Hughes. Can I congratulate her on behalf of the branch for completing her 'Race for Life' event' at Heythrop on Sunday June 24th. She managed to  run and walk the course.  If you're interested in seeing how her day went and how the fund raising is going look at her webpage at  www.raceforlifesponsorme.org. 

As you are probably aware Heather has recently spent some time in hospital. I am glad to say she is out and is making excellent progress. I am sure you all join me in wishing Heather a speedy recovery.

St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Banbury

Recently I was asked how the three bells at St. John's Banbury were hung. I had thought they were hung for chiming only but after some debate about this I decided to have a look. After gaining permission to look at the bells, which have a very restricted access due to Health and Safety concerns, I met Richard the clock winder and he took me up the tower. There are in fact four bells.

One is hung for chiming whilst the other three are hanging in a line. Originally they had wheels but no stays or sliders. Today two bells retain their wheels: a third has about half of its original wheel left. Looking at the small size of the bells they would have

been

Cook(s) neededfor the

Steeple Aston Course

Dorothy and Vicky Clifton have cooked the evening meal since the course began and have decided that it is now time to hang up their aprons.   They have resigned and the course organisers are looking for a replacement cook. What is required?Coffee/tea and biscuits at the start of the day - about 9.30am and then a hot meal for about 50 at night.  Steeple Aston village hall is well equipped for catering for this number. The cook gets to choose the menu and set the price and the participants are always very grateful.

So come on all you cooks out there give Graham a ring. 

difficult to ring without going over the balance and I suspect were hung with wheels so they could be swung half way up. When the clock was put in hammers were installed so they could be used as clock bells. The ropes have long since gone and now pipes and the clock mechanism block what was presumably the ringing chamber. These bells have been unringable for a very long time.

The bells details are as follows:

Treble Cast 1860 by Taylor’s of Loughborough Weight 3qrs 7lbs

Second Cast 1862 by Taylor’s of Loughborough Weight 3qrs 20lbs

Tenor Cast 1861 by Taylor’s of Loughborough Weight 1cwt 2qrs 8lbs

They are not tuned to each other and would be the treble, third and fourth of a ring of six.

.

Puzzle PageAnswers to Branch brain teaser1. Adderbury, 2. Bloxham and Adderbury, 3. Sandford St Martin (it has a sloping floor), 4. Bloxham, 5. Horley, 6. Banbury, 7. North Aston, 8. Cropredy, 9. Mollington, 10. Winners Steeple Aston, 11. Sadly Great Tew have lost Abbott Conway, 12. Mollington, 13. Chipping Norton, Witney and Woodstock, Bicester, 14. Banbury, 15. Deddington, 16. Duns Tew, 17. Duns Tew, 18. Length, Strength, Beauty, 19. Kings Sutton, 20. Banbury – Fine Lady statue by the Cross.

Word Play 4Use bellringing terms to complete these well known phrases and sayings

Too ---- to catch coldLive from hand to -----Let sleeping dogs----

A stiff upper ------ of sight , --- of mind--- a thief to catch a thief---- on one’s luck----- the mainbrace---- the courseGo like the --------

* *Practice Night Numbers9 Towers held practice nightsUse the clues to find how many bells were rung at each practice.

Tower A Army Rank rang bellsTower B Game with a partner in tennis rang bellsTower C Musical note plus we 2 rang bellsTower D Gets 3x as much rang bellsTower E Goes to the bottom in water rang bellsTower F Regal rang bellsTower G Underage rang bellsTower H Prepares and serves food rang bellsTower I Principle and America briefly rang bells

Striking the Right NoteSteeple Aston take the cup

This year’s Striking Competition was held at Steeple Aston on Friday June 15th. The six teams from the Branch that took part were judged by the Rev. Anthony Ellis, Rector of Kidlington. The winning team was Steeple Aston with 13 faults, followed closely by Great Tew on 17 faults. Third was Tadmarton, fourth Cropredy, fifth Mollington and sixth Bodicote. Around about seventy people gathered after the competition in the village hall for food and the results. The raffle raised just over £100 which was donated to Heather's 'Race for Life', This bought the current total she has raised to £3450.

Some of those who took part can be seen gathered in Steeple Aston village hall.

Cropredy bells

Earlier this year Cropredy bells were lowered from the tower to be refurbished, tuned and augmented. Whites of Appleton have undertaken the work with the Cropredy ringers assisting on site.

The Church took delivery of two new bells in June and a special service was held in celebration. One is the ‘Fairport Convention Festival Bell’ funded by the visitors to the annual music weekend. The other is inscribed ‘Cropredy Villagers gave me’ in recognition of the money raised by them towards the total cost of the project.

On July 11th the bells of Cropredy rang out over the village as the newly augmented ring of eight was tried out for the very first time. A prayer was said by the vicar before ringing commenced. There was a large gathering of village people and Cropredy ringers as well as Banbury Branch ringers and employees of Whites of Appleton. After ringing the bells everyone agreed that an excellent job had been done. The trebles blended in well with the original ring of six and the bells handled well. Bob Reeves had yet again made his mark with a set of rope guides that he had made and put in place.

Change of Venue AGM April 19th at Banbury

8 new members were elected at the half yearly meeting Barry Davis will act as branch Chairman until the AGM in 2008. Sue Burchell has

agreed to be put forward as Chairman from the AGM. More experienced help is needed at ‘Beginners Practices’ A ringing up and down course at Wardington was proposed Jon Chamberlain (Guild Master) suggested that members certificates be prepared for

presentation on the day of election The Branch will contribute to a board recording the peal rung in memoriam of Abbott

Conway

Dates 2007December 26th Branch Practice Deddington 10.30am – 12.00pm (Boxing Day)

2008January 1st Branch Practice Banbury 10.30am – 12.00pm (New Years Day)January 31st Tower Reps Meeting Elephant and Castle BloxhamFebruary 2nd Sponsored quarter peal day with social and supperMarch 8th Branch DinnerApril 19th AGM Banbury

The editors would like to thank all those who have contributed to this edition of the newsletter either with articles or photographs. If you would like to contribute to the next edition with a puzzle, picture, wordsearch, article etc. then please send your contributions to Barry and Jean Davis at 61 Springfield Avenue, Banbury, Oxon or alternatively e-mail bjdbellringer@btinternet.com

Don’t forget the website. If you want your own copy of this newsletter then download from -

www.banbury-bells.org.uk