Are you a thespian? Shakespeare Society holds auditions in Otford for summer performances of ‘The Winter’s Tale

SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY: Auditions will be taking place at Otford Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23 October and at 10.30am on Sunday 27 October for the production of The Winter’s Tale by the Sevenoaks Shakespeare Society. The auditions are for the society’s Summer 2020 production being directed by Matt Frieacre. Performances will be at the White Rock at Underriver, 26, 27 & 28 June and 2, 3, 4, 5 July 2020 (starting at 8pm, and Matinees on Sundays at 3:30 pm) and at St Briavel’s Castle in Gloucestershire Saturday 11 July at 7:30pm, and Sunday 12 July at 2:30pm. More info at: www.sevenoaksshakespeare.org

BOMB ALERT: Police warned Otford residents to stay away from the village recreation ground this week after the discovery of an unexploded second world war bomb close to the football pitches. A Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal unit was called in to deactivate the device on Tuesday.

CHURCH TALK: Hospices of Hope charity founder, Graham Perolls, will be talking about The Legacy of a Dictator, exploring former Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu’s legacy 30 years after the communist regime ended in Romania from 7.30pm on Wednesday, 30 October in St Bartholmew’s church centre. Tickets cost £10 and include cheese and wine. To book, contact Hospice of Hopes 01959 525100, email: events@hospicesofhope.co.uk or visit www.hospicesofhope.co.uk

SEVENOAKS RSPB members were given a captivating presentation by Keith Betton on October 3 detailing how peregrine falcons and red kites had been brought back from the brink of extinction in the UK. In November they will jump continents when top Kent ornithologist John Buckingham will be presenting ‘The Birds of South West India’. This will be in the Memorial Hall from 7.45pm on Thursday, 7 November. The charge for non local group members is £3.50 and £2.50 for group members.

Their field trip this month is to Shellness on the Isle of Sheppey on Sunday 27 October. Contact the leader John Waterman on 07935 206618 if you are interested in joining the trip. Details of all local group activities can be found on the Sevenoaks RSPB website at ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks Other news can be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/RSPBSevenoaks/.

SEVENOAKS EMBROIDERS’ GUILD meets at 10am on Saturday 26 October in the Otford Memorial Hall for the branch’s AGM. This will be followed by a talk by Fred Lemont on ‘The Flemish Weavers of the Weald’. This afternoon session starts at 2pm and finishes with tea and cakes. For more information contact Sylvia Grafton 01732 452117.

FLU VACCINATIONS: The latest dates for flu vaccinations are: Otford Medical Practice, Saturday 26 October from 9am to noon at Otford Surgery for patients over 65.

TWINS: The Otford/Neufchatel-Hardelot Twinning Associations next social gathering is at 7.30pm on Monday 28 October in the Woodman Pub by the pond. They look forward to you joining them.

OTFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB meets on Thursday 31 October at Walthamstow Hall Junior School with Colin Butson calling. All kinds of mixed folk dances are on offer and all are welcome. Whether you have little or no knowledge, the caller will give help and your fellow dancers will also assist you. The emphasis is on friendly enjoyment rather than perfection If you would like more information ring Mary Butson on 01732 458356.

STAG THEATRE COMPANY presents Derek Benfield’s ‘Anyone for Breakfast?’ at the Otford Memorial Hall on Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November at 7.30pm. In this merry comedy of marital mishaps, the scene is set for an evening and morning of riotous misunderstandings and mistaken identities as the guilty parties in question try desperately to keep their romantic secrets secret. Tickets are £12 which includes a drink and cake. The charity prize draw on the night will be in aid of Holding On Letting Go which supports bereaved children and their families in Kent.

Tickets are available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/stag-theatre-company

MAN CHARGED: A suspected burglar has been charged over a break-in in Otford where stolen bank cards were then repeatedly used to make contactless payments. A burglary was reported to have taken place between 23 and 24 September 2019 at a house in Orchard Road, where the victim awoke to find two cars missing from the drive as well as a handbag containing bank cards. It was then discovered a number of contactless transactions had been made, after the cards were allegedly used in the hours after the break-in. On Wednesday 16 October, Aaron Townsend, aged 32, of no fixed address was arrested in the Bromley area. He was later charged with burglary and 10 counts of fraud by false representation. He was remanded in custody to appear before Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 17 October.

OTFORD LUNCH CLUB for older residents, which takes place from 11.45am every Thursday in the village Memorial Hall on the High Street, is looking for volunteers to join their five friendly teams. If you are interested in joining them either as an individual or with a friend, your commitment will be for about a four hour period once every five weeks helping to serve local residents an initial cup of tea or coffee followed by a hot nutritious two course meal. The Club is a welcoming place for local residents to go along and socialise with friends, old and news. To find out more please contact Margaret Nicholson 01959 524147.

PARKING PETITION: ‘Stop unsafe parking on Station Road’ is the name of the petition residents are being asked to sign by clicking on http://chng.it/LqwMGZCB.  Vehicles regularly park on Station Road on both the road and on the pavement causing an obstruction to pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. This petition is asking for your support to implement controls to present this.  You are being asked to support this petition to reduce delays and improve safety for the whole community.

OTFORD TENNIS CLUB located in a beautiful setting on the High Street Recreation Ground, is looking for new members and welcomes players of all standards. There is a clubhouse and three tennis courts, two of which are floodlit. Tennis is played all year round. The club also has adult and junior coaching sessions provided by LTA accredited coaches. If you would like more information please contact their membership secretary, Alison Sykes on 01959 522050 or email: enquiries@otfordtennis.org.uk

DIAL 2 DRIVE is seeking volunteer drivers to take elderly/disabled people to a medical appointment or shopping just one a week. If you own a car and would like to help please contact them on 0300 777 1200 or email: driving@imago.community

The Otford village news is compiled by Kay Drake. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the My Sevenoaks Community village column you can email her at: drake_kay@hotmail.com