Select from the links below to go to the relevant sections:

• Saturday Branch Practice
• Advanced Practice
• Monday Afternoon Branch Practice
• Monday Evening Minor Practice (Shinfield)
• Other Practices

 Saturday Branch Practice

• A monthly practice on the 2nd Saturday of each month - please check in the Diary pages.
• There is no practice if it clashes with the Branch AGM [February], Easter [March/April], the Branch Outing [June], the Guild Festival [July], the 6-bell competition or Easthampstead Course [September], the Carol Service [December].
• The practice runs from 7pm to 9pm for most of the year but, during November to January, it runs from 4pm to 6pm - please check in the Diary pages.
• The venue varies each month, normally a 6-bell or 8-bell tower in the branch but occasionally the 12-bell tower or a couple of 4-bell towers.
• The practice covers all levels of ringing, as required/practicable, from rounds and call changes, plain hunt methods, Stedman, treble bob and surprise methods.
• Donations go to the ODG Bell Fund (50p suggested).

 Advanced / 8-bell Methods Practice

• A monthly practice on the 3rd Thursday of each month - please check in the Diary pages.
• There is no practice in December or if it clashes with church services.
• Timing - always from 8pm to 9:30pm.
• The same venue is used each month, namely Shiplake (8 bells, 9-2-15 / 489kg) which is a CCCBR-recognized Ringing Centre.  Note that, due to the proximity to Shiplake College, the Ringing Simulator is used for practices during school term-time.
• The practice aims to develop the range and quality of method ringing.  Attendees should, as a minimum, have good handling and be competent in Plain Bob and Grandsire.  The methods rung will depend on the abilities and preferences of those present,ranging from plain hunt methods, Stedman, treble bob, surprise and spliced ringing.  From time to time there is a focus on a particular method, to encourage learners to attend regularly.
• Donations go to the local tower funds (50p suggested).

 Monday Afternoon Branch Practice

• A once per month practice on Monday afternoons.  Occasionally there is a 3-week gap between practices, so please check in the Diary pages.
• Dates and venues are arranged 3-4 months in advance and are published on the Diary pages and in the Branch Newsletter.
• Timing - always from 2pm to 3:30pm.
• This is a popular day-time practice which caters for a wide range of abilities - from Rounds and Call Changes through to Cambridge and London Minor.

 Monday Evening Minor Practice

• A monthly practice on the Monday before the last Friday of each month.  This is not always the last Monday of the month, so please check in the Diary pages.
• There is no practice if it coincides with a Public Holiday.
• Timing - always from 7:30pm to 9pm.
• Shinfield (11-3-13 / 603kg) is a CCCBR-recognised Ringing Centre.  The Ringing Simulator is used during the last week of each month.
• Popular methods include Plain Hunt, Plain Bob, Little Bob, Bastow and Bistow and Cambridge.  The practice is open to anyone wishing to ring anything on 6 bells.

 Other Practices

Occasional extra practices may be arranged, subject to the level of demand and support - please check in the Diary pages.  For example:

• Youth Practice - ringers up to the age of 21 are particularly welcome.
• Higher Numbers Practice - At St Laurence, Reading, normally on a Sunday afternoon.