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of the Chipping Norton Branch

On Saturday 4th October the Oxford Diocesan Guild 6 bell striking competition was held in Cuddesdon, just outside Oxford. Alongside this there was the guild Raising and Lowering completion in the neighbouring village of Garsington.
I’m very pleased to report that the Chipping Norton branch was extremely well represented with Hook Norton once again winning the raising and lowering competition. The top three bands were separated by just a few percent with third place awarded to North Bucks on 84%, second place to Longcot on 86%, and Hook Norton won first place with 88%. This is the third year in a row that Hook Norton have won the Coronation Trophy which was presented by Bob Newton.
The main 6 bell striking competition was held in Cuddesdon and 8 bands from across the guild were competing. Colin Newman (past College Youths Master) was the main judge and the top two places were extremely close with Reading winning by the narrowest of margins with 13 faults. Hook Norton were placed second on 13.5 faults. Third place was awarded to Longcott with 23 faults.
Very well done to Hook Norton for putting on such strong performances. The picture shows the winning band with the Coronation Shield – 1) Selina Harris, 2) Sally Austin, 3) Jonathan Muller, 4) David Salter, 5) Dan Austin (c) (Had to leave early so didn’t make the photo!), 6) Mick Austin.

David Salter
Branch Chair and Ringing Master

Ringers from Burford, Chadlington & Shipton under Wychwood, gathered at Taynton to ring a Quarter Peal as a Birthday Compliment to Jo Cook and Alison Minson, long serving and valued members of Chipping Norton Branch. They have over many years supported ringing throughout the branch especially in the Burford group, Shipton under Wychwood and Chadlington. The ringers were invited by their family for a celebratory drink at their home afterwards.  Bellboard.

In August our Branch Chair and Ringing Master (David Salter) joined other ‘Bellringing Motorcyclists’ for a trip to Vernet-les-Bains in France to ring the only set of bells in France rung in the English way. St Georges Anglican Church in Vernet-les-Bains was established in 1911 through funding including Rudyard Kipling and Queen Victorias daughter, Princess Beatrice. This was in response to the growing interest from wealthy English visitors in the early 1900s and Frances only monument to the Entente Cordiale of 1904. Vernet les Bains has a ring of 10 cast by Taylors and was installed in 2019 through the enthusiasm and drive of Geoff Ladd, an expat originally from Leeds. Geoff moved to Vernet-les-Bain and was instrumental in getting the project going and regularly runs a Ringing School for other expats and other local ringers that he has taught. During his brief visit David was joined by other visiting ringers from Catherington (Hampshire) and was able to ring several Quarter Peals and a Peal (details on Bellboard).