Church members prepare to join the chain gang to help raise funds for Otford

MEMBERS OF ST BATHOLEMEW’S CHURCH will be participating in The Friends of Kent Churches Bike and Hike being held between 10am and 6pm on Saturday 14 September. Potential sponsors will be most welcome. They are also looking to make up a rota of people to welcome visiting cyclists and walkers to sign them in. If you can spare an hour or two, please contact the Church Office on 01959 523185.  The Otford Parish gets a share of the money raised from the event.

ANNUAL FRONT GARDEN COMPETITION: Otford Gardeners’ Society is again organising the Annual Otford Front Garden competition on behalf of the Parish Council. Preliminary judging takes place during August when committee members will be walking around the village taking notes. The competition is based on the front gardens that would take the eye of a stranger to the village without him or her having to look around or over a hedge, wall or fence.  Details of the competition winners will be printed later in the year.

TWINS VISIT: If you would like to host any of Otford’s Hardelot Twins on the weekend of 27/29 September and/or join the coach trip to Hampton Court on Saturday 28 September, please contact Jane Lawrey c/o the Parish Council office on 01959 524808, as soon as possible.

OTFORD EVANGELICAL CHURCH offers coffee and chat between 2pm and 4pm each Tuesday afternoon in August. There is an open invitation to all those who would welcome an opportunity to meet with other local people in a relaxed and friendly environment. If you need transport please call 07510 909035, email otfordefc@gmail.com or visit www.otfordefc.orn.uk.

THE PETANQUE CLUB meets at 2.30pm every Thursday afternoon on the terrain adjacent to the football pavilion at the High Street Recreation Ground and have room for more members.  The club is even offering the first year’s subscription free.  You can turn up and try out the game, even if you have never played before, and they have spare sets of balls which can be loaned.  If you are interested and need more information, please call Peter Wickenden on 01959 524242.

SUMMER PLAY DAYS are again being organised by Sevenoaks District Council. The activities are aimed at children under 12 years, although not to very young children.  No booking is needed you simply turn up and have fun but children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. Take waterproof clothing and sunscreen and check www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/summerfun before setting off as the programme may change at short notice especially if there is poor weather.  The play days will be at Otford High Street Recreation ground between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 14 August, Chipstead Recreation Ground between 10.30 and 1pm on Monday 19 August, and at Sevenoaks Greatness Recreation Ground between 10am and 2pm on Wednesday 21 August.  The full programme can be seen on the district council website above. 

OTFORD HERITAGE CENTRE is open between 2.30 and 4.30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons until mid-December offering visitors to our village the 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 THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB.  Please note that there will be no Lunch Club during August due to hall refurbishment.

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