Happy birthday to Eunice on her 100th birthday – one of several Otford ladies to reach this milestone

CONGRATULATIONS to Otford resident Eunice Beasley who celebrated her 100th birthday on 1 November. The village seems to have a good number of ladies on the cusp of 100 so look out for news of their birthdays in future editions. Eunice has lead an interesting life and we send her every good wish for the future.

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

OTFORD SCOUTS ANNUAL FIREWORKS, bonfire and BBQ takes place at the Chalk Pit, Otford on Saturday 3 November with gates opening at 5.30pm. The bonfire will be lit around at 5.45pm with fireworks to follow at 6pm. There will be a BBQ on the night selling burgers, hot dogs, bacon rolls, veggie sausages, hot soups and cold drinks. Glowsticks will also be available to purchase (cash only). Tickets are £5 each (children under 5 free), family tickets are £15 in advance or £18 on the night (2 adults and 2 children). Tickets are available in advance from Otford Dry Cleaners and Yvonne’s Newsagents (cash only).

The Chalk Pit is located up a footpath opposite the Otford Scout Hut (next to disabled access at Otford train station platform 2). There is no parking at the site and drivers are advised to use the station car park or the car park at the High Street Recreation Ground.

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.

ADVANCE WARNING of the annual Remembrance Service at 10am followed by a presentation of flags adjacent to the pond on Sunday 10 November 10 as 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.

SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY has been holding auditions in Otford and will now be is performing its Summer 2020 production of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Matt Frieacre, at The White Rock in 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. www.sevenoaksshakespeare.org

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