News

North Bucks v Towcester Saturday 26 July 2025 This year’s Inter-branch striking competition was held at Pattishall in Northamptonshire, a lovely ring which were re-hung and augmented to 8 in 2023. With a superb bell ringers tea laid on by the Towcester branch everything was set up for a congenial afternoon’s ringing and rivalry.As per tradition, who goes first or second in each section of ringing is determined by a toss of a coin, so North Bucks started the competition off with Call Changes on 8. Towcester were first to ring both with the Bob minor and the Stedman Triples.The ...

There was a good turn out for the 6 bell striking competition held at Loughton, with two teams from Padbury, two from Shenley/Loughton and teams representing Lillingston Lovell and Maids Moreton.With lovely refreshments laid on by the Loughton/Shenley band, there was quite a hubbub in the church room as teams waited for their their go.Chairman of North Bucks, David Phillipson judged the competition. A variety of ringing was attempted, ranging from call changes to Plain Hunt, Grandsire and St Martins. The results were as follows 1st Shenley/Loughton A (St Martins) 18 Faults 2nd Shenley/Loughton B (call changes) 46 Faults 3rd ...

Old Wolverton hosted the “Find Your Voice in the Tower” training session on Saturday 15th March 2025, a basic introduction to calling touches of Bob and Grandsire doubles. The afternoon statred with refreshments and a warm welcome from the team at Old Wolverton followed by Ringing Master Ted Fawcett doing a basic introduction for the three students on why and how calls are made when ringing methods. It was then into the Ringing room and each student in turn called a 60 of bob doubles supported by a wonderful band of helpers. Having done this successfully, they then had a ...

The refit of the bells of St Mary’s Shenley by White’s of Appleton started promptly on Monday 27th January, the bellhangers ably assisted by John Brookman and Alan Marchbank, with support from Ted Fawcett, Becky Fawcett and Paul Randall, a member of the congregation. Day 1 consisted of getting everything off the lorry and hoisted up into the bell chamber. Day 2 was weighing the bells and getting all the fittings attached Day 3, the clappers were fitted and trued up, adjustments made and the test ring was done at 4pm. The bells ring beautifully as one would expect when ...

St Mary’s Shenley Monday 21st October 2024 was D Day for the bells of St Mary’s Shenley as it marked the beginning of the dismantling of the fixtures and fittings for refurbishment by Whites of Appleton. Preparation work in the ringing room began the day before but it was an early start on the 21st to expose the ringing room trap door, not seen for 116 years.When it was uncovered it was discovered that it was held in place by no less than 64 flathead screws so their were some very sore arms when the final screw was withdrawn. The ...

Three students and 10 helpers met at Old Wolverton on a beautiful sunny afternoon for an introduction to hunting the treble to a method and Bob doubles. After introductions over refreshments each student was given the opportunity to ring the treble to a plain course of bob doubles to assess how they could make the most of the session. This was followed by a short theory talk on why methods are rung, some terminology and the basic structure of Bob doubles. Then each student was given the opportunity to ring either the method from a number of different bells or ...

The branch Coronation quarter-peal week ran from May 6 to May 14. Thirteen quarters were scored (out of a planned sixteen or so), from Padbury in the branch’s south-west corner to Emberton in the north. Ringing started straight after the coronation itself, and continued somewhere throughout the branch every day until the next weekend. The full list can be accessed on Bellboard, via the diary entry for 6 May, called “Oxford Diocesan Guild – North Bucks Branch Coronation quarter-peal week” Congratulations to all those who took part ...

Roy’s funeral will be on Wednesday 19 April at 11.30am in Crownhill Crematorium Oak Chapel. No black attire and family flowers only. Afterwards at The Club in Hanslope. Donations are for Willen Hospice & RSPB via a link at H W Mason Funeral Directors There is a live stream of the funeral available for 7 days – please contact caroline@cazb.me for the link and also to advise if you plan to attend the funeral ...

Last year over 1,000 parishes and 25 cathedrals came together to ring out their warning about our environmental crises on the eve of COP 26. There was a string of bell ringing and community events across the US and Canada and some bells even rang out in Australia! Click here for details: https://t.co/Zk4aFZ0E15 ...

On Saturday 4th December we are holding a ringing and social event at Woughton-on-the-Green.4:00 – 5:30 Ringing 5:30 – 5:45 Meeting, if we need one to elect new members – If you have any new members to propose, please let me know beforehand. 6:00 onwards – Refreshment and Quiz – We will order fish and chips on the day. Note from Doug Hird: Please let me know if you aim to attend so we can make sure there are enough plates etc. to go round. email Doug at : secretary@northbucks.odg.org.uk ...