NB outing 19/04/2008


Northern Branch Outing to Oxfordshire - 19/04/2008

(From the Northern Branch Newsletter and Campanophile)

This year our outing on April 19th was by car visiting towers within the Bicester Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers.

Some ringers made the journey from the north of Lincolnshire the day before and stayed in Oxfordshire overnight.  Most of those making the journey on Saturday started out very early.  All 18 people arrived in good time to start the day ringing at Middleton Stoney.

As we approached the church, which is situated in private parkland, we were greeted by some beautiful Highland Cattle.  By the side of the church are the remains of a Norman castle.  The church has some very interesting features including a fine Norman arch and a beautiful carved tympanum dating from about 1150.

We were enjoying the bells here when one of the ropes broke.  Fortunately, Frank can still splice ropes and this meant that we did not have to leave a broken rope for the Middleton ringers.

Two of the ladies left us at Middleton Stoney for a visit to Bicester Village Retail Outlet.  (NB. Simon – no Retail Village nearby next time !)  One husband eventually received the gift of a pair of socks, the other husband received nothing !

We then made our way to Islip church.  Here we were able to ring the light eight with a tenor of 8-1-7.  One problem encountered was when the ringer of the 4th beginning to ring Grandsire making 3rds and going into lead.  It transpired that the rope for the treble was very close to the tenor rope and then there was quite a gap before the rope for the 2nd.  Poor old chap – he thought he was on the 3rd !  (All this from someone who loves ringing Grandsire Triples !)

We really enjoyed a three course lunch at Islip – the meat and ale pies were enormous.  By this time we had been joined by Teresa from the Bicester Branch who proved an excellent guide through the winding Oxfordshire lanes to Charlton-on-Otmoor.  Here the rain began and it stayed with us for the rest of the day.

We then went on to Kirtlington, an extremely pretty village with what looked like an excellent public house.  Unfortunately, we did not have time to sample it’s wares.  One car ended up at the village sports pavilion instead of at the church.  This, despite Simon’s excellent directions in the itinerary.  We were told that the bells were not rung very often here as there is no band.  Hopefully our ringing may have re-kindled some interest in the village in ringing again.

Our last tower was the obviously very much loved church at Bletchington.  The churchyard was a mass of primroses and the bells a delight to ring.

We had all brought cakes and biscuits for a “Faith tea” and a lady from Bletchington kindly made cups of tea and coffee for us.  Whilst we were enjoying our tea, we were serenaded with organ music played by Simon.

Several of us went home with plants purchased from the plant stall in this church.  (What a good fundraising idea !)

We had a lovely day, despite the distance which we travelled from Market Rasen, Middle Rasen, Grimsby and Barton-upon-Humber.

Simon had prepared a fully detailed 7 page itinerary of which we all had a copy.  Thank you so much Simon for your hard work in organising our trip.  You have been awarded 10/10 and are now officially appointed our Branch Outing Organiser !

Very many thanks to everyone who met us at the various towers and to the incumbents for their permission to ring their bells. 

Hopefully we shall visit Oxfordshire again in the near future – if you will have us – and if the splice has held !

Maureen Kennington

Northern Branch ringers pictured at St.Giles, Bletchington, Oxfordshire.

Kneeling : Lorraine Bateman, Norman Palmer. 
Standing (L-R) : Roger Lord, Frank Kennington, Andrew Lord, Charles Cade, David Morris,
Simon Cole, Joy Lord, John Cade, John Fox, Matthew Jeffery, Stephen Wright and Dorothy Robinson.