Find out what’s going on in Otford by attending the Annual Assembly of the Parish

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARISH: This event, usually known as the Annual Parish Meeting, will be held from 7pm in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall on Monday, 15 April.  It is a chance for residents to hear from, and to put questions to, local councillors, the chairs of the standing committees, the working groups on sustainable tourism and on the latest on Traffic Management. Representatives from other village organisations who will also be present. Refreshments will be available at 7pm and the meeting itself will start at 7.30pm.

WI MEETINGS: Both Otford Oast WI and Otford Evening WI meet on Thursday 11 April in the village Memorial Hall.  Otford Oast meets at 9.30am for Easter Crafts and Otford Evening at 7.30pm to celebrate their 60^th birthday with a special supper and cake. Visitors are very welcome. For more information on the Oast WI email otfordoastwi@mail.com and Evening WI contact their President on 01959 524831.

SEVENOAKS FLOWER CLUB will be meeting at 1.45pm on Tuesday 9 April in the village Memorial Hall when members will be making an Easter arrangement. Visitors are very welcome at £5 and annual membership is £37.

FAIR FEAST 2019: Otford Methodist Church extends its warmest thanks to everyone who supported or contributed in any way to the quiz and pancakes evening last month.  The final sum raised by way of ticket sales and donations was £1,813.75 and this has been sent to All We Can, the Methodist relief and development fund, for further help to refugees of all ages in the camps in Jordan and Bangladesh.  A note for your diaries – Shrove Tuesday in 2020 will be on 25 February.

SEVENOAKS RSPB: The meeting on 4 April sees them return to these shores when Colin Page, a Rye-based natural history specialist and photographer gave a presentation on the Coast and Islands around Britain to members at the recent meeting at the Otford Memorial Hall.

As well as monthly presentations the group has two free field trips each month, and the best way to learn bird watching is to be with experienced birders.  The Sunday trips are led by John Waterman tel 07935 206618, and the Wednesday trips by Anne McGregor tel 01732 454304. It is important to contact the leaders beforehand to get the trip details.  Both April trips are to Oare Marsh and are on Sunday 7 April and Wednesday 10 April. Further information about the group can be found at: – ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/sevenoaks or follow them on Facebook at RSPB Sevenoaks Local Group.

OTFORD PETANQUE CLUB, which plays next to the Pavilion on the village Recreation Ground, is looking for new members for the start of its new season in April. It offers a friendly club environment at 2.30pm every Thursday afternoon on the Otford Recreation Ground. You are invited to go along and try it out, you will be made very welcome. For more info contact 01959 52424.

WELCOME to Roxanne and Joseph Baker who have just opened Olympus Bathrooms at Number 8 High Street.

1ST OTFORD RAINBOWS: One of the leaders will be stepping down at the end of the summer term and to ensure this popular, over-subscribed unit can keep running they are looking for new volunteers.  They need at least one person who will be prepared to complete Girlguiding training to become a uniformed leader.

What’s in it for me? 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.

If you think this could be you or you know someone that would love to do this please register interest on the Girlguiding UK website https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/ and they will be in touch to chat through the options. If you have any questions please email ggkemsingotforddistrict@gmail.com

OTFORD HERITAGE CENTRE is open between 2.30pm 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.

HOSPICES OF HOPE’S Teashop in Otford 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 enjoy refreshments whilst all the time supporting the charity which is largely staffed by volunteers.  If you would like to volunteer to work in the Teashop please speak to Julie or Cornel 01959 524322 or to help with administrative tasks in their offices call 01959 525110 or email office@hospicesofhopx.co.uk

RECYCLE your ink cartridges and toners by dropping used ones into Otford Primary School or the Parish Council office, both in the High Street as by doing so you can raise money for the school.

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