Free Memory Cafe for those living with dementia and their carers opens in Otford

Vitality Home Health is inviting anyone living with dementia, their carers, family and supporters to a new Otford Memory Café on the first Monday on each month between 10am and noon.

The event is free and offers activities, company and refreshments in a supportive and safe environment.

Vitality Home Health is based in the former Crown Pub by Otford Pond and the first Otford Memory Café is on Monday 2 December.

If you would like more information call Debbie on 01732 755582; mobile: 07522 962952; or email her on: debbie@vialityhomehealth.co.uk

ADVANCE WARNING of the annual Remembrance Service at 10am followed by a presentation of flags adjacent to Otford pond on Sunday 10 November at St Bartholomew’s church. Passing traffic may not be halted but will obviously be disrupted and slow moving, so it is better to avoid this area if you simply need to pass through.

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH invites you to join them on Monday 11 November between noon and 2pm in the church centre to enjoy delicious homemade soups and bread, with a light dessert, in very genial company. Suggested donation £5. Please sign the list on the book table at the back of the church to let them know that you are coming. Their coffee-time guests will be ‘Reflections’ a small band of church instrumentalists who will perform some simple songs with a Remembrance theme.

On 16 November there is a Christmas Pudding workshop in the church centre at 2.30pm. Get ahead for Christmas and pause for a delicious afternoon tea in good company. Go along with a family member or friend. To book your place, or find out more, please phone Joan Beacom on 01959 524304.

OTFORD OAST WI: The next meeting will be held at 9.30am on Thursday 21 November at 9.30am in the Memorial Hall. A talk will be given by John Halligan on ‘How Charing got its Cross’. New members are welcome and the first visit is free. For further information email: otfordoastwi@mail.com

OTFORD METHODIST CHURCH is pleased to invite you to its special Christmas events: Nativity play, 10.30am Sunday 8 December; Croydon SDA Gospel Choir, 7.30pm Saturday 14 December: Carol Service 6.30pm Sunday 22 December: Christingle 5pm Tuesday 24 December; and their Christmas Morning Service at 10am. They look forward to welcoming you all to these events and exploring the real reason for celebrating the Christmas story in 2019.

OTFORD HERITAGE CENTRE is open between 2.30 and 4.30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons until mid-December offering visitors to the 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, extra help is always welcome.

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

OTFORD LUNCH CLUB for older residents, which takes place from 11.45am every Thursday in the village Memorial Hall, is looking for volunteers to join their five friendly teams. If you can join them either as an individual or with a friend you will be warmly welcomed. 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. To find out more please contact: 01959 524147.

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