Choose a name for a puppy and help raise funds during Otford fete to train Guide Dogs
THE VILLAGE FETE committee would like to thank those individuals who came forward to volunteer to join them but there is always room for more helpers so if you can spare some time then Patty Chatterjee would love to hear from you patty.chatterjee@me.com.
This year the fete will commemorate the 50th anniversary of when when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon on 20 July, 1969. The charity being supported is Guide Dogs and the organisers are holding competitions to name puppies. By donating to the campaign you will be starting a puppy on its road to helping someone with sight loss get their own dog and in two years’ time, as it takes 20 months of specialised training before a puppy can be partnered with someone who has sight loss, that person will have a dog named by an Otford resident.
OTFORD YARN CRAFTERS meet between 10 and 11am on Tuesday March 12 in Hospice of Hopes Tea Rooms, High Street, to inspire one another, knit, crochet, spin or weave. If you would like to share your projects, skills and knowledge, and find help and support if your project isn’t going well, then you are invited to go along. You don’t need to book, there are no fees for joining, but you are invited to purchase a hot or cold drink at the venue.
SEVENOAKS FLOWER CLUB meets at 1.45pm on Tuesday, 12 March, when demonstrator Lionel Clarke will give a talk entitled ‘Swan Song’. Lionel’s first interest was the garden and he joined a Horticultural Society to learn more about garden plant material and then trained to become an Area Demonstrator. Annual membership is £37, but visitors are very welcome at £5 per session.
OTFORD EVENING WI meets at 7.30pm on Thursday, 14 March, in the Memorial Hall when Tim Pearce will talk about ‘Sevenoaks Shops – from the good old days to 2018’. If you would more information please contact their President 01959 524831 or simply go along on the night as visitors are welcome.
OTFORD HERITAGE CENTRE re-opened on Saturday 2 March and will remain open between 2.30 and 4.30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons until mid-December offering visitors to the village an opportunity to see Otford’s continuous habitation over 4,000 years with changing displays of recent history, village life, natural history and models of Otford Palace, and the interior of an Oast House as well as many others. It is free to enter, although donations are gratefully received. If you are interested in becoming a steward then extra help is always welcome.
OTFORD OAST WI meets at 9.30am on Thursday, 21 March, in the village Memorial Hall to hear Richard Griffin talk about being a Bodyguard to the Royals. New members are always welcome and your first visit is free. For more information please email otfordoastwi@mail.com
OTFORD AND SEAL TREFOIL GUILD, the organisation for senior guiders, would like to welcome some new members and the good news is that you don’t need to have been involved in the movement to join them. They meet at 7.30pm on the third Thursday of the month at Kemsing Library for a variety of social activities and also have regular outings including afternoon teas, pub lunches and visits to stately homes. If this sounds interesting please call Kay Drake 01959 522727 for more information.
GIRGUILDING: Kemsing and Otford District are seeking volunteers to join the team to #InspireGirls. They cannot meet demand and have several hundred girls waiting to join their units in the Kemsing, Otford, and Seal area. New volunteers are needed to support existing units, prevent some closing and open new ones. There are currently vacancies for a variety of different roles, working directly with girls and young women in units as uniformed Leaders or unit helpers or behind the scenes managing the admin or accounts. What’s in it for you? You will make new friends, learn new skills, enhance your CV, ‘give something back’ get involved in your local community and have lots of fun. Girlguiding also gives access to a great range of benefits like free training and resources and a members scheme. Please register your interest on the Girlguiding UK website and they will be in touch to chat through the options. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/
HOSPICES OF HOPE’S Teashop in the High Street is now open seven days a week so you have the opportunity of calling in for a coffee, light lunch, or afternoon tea. The Teashop specialises in homemade cakes and what are reputed to be the best scones customers have ever tasted In the front shop there is an opportunity to buy clothes, toys, bric-a-brac, books, jewellery, china, glass and furniture so you can browse, and then you can buy and enjoy refreshments whilst all the time supporting this wonderful charity which is largely staffed by volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to work in the Teashop please speak to Julie 01959 524322 or to help with administrative tasks in their offices call 01959 525110 or email office@hospicesofhope.co.uk
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
