Large crowd braves the weather to say thanks to Otford village barber Stan

THE contribution made to Otford life by Stan Miles the barber was recognised on Sunday (25 November) when a picnic table and bench was unveiled in his honour at the village recreation ground.

Stan and wife Usch with the new table.

Stan retired recently after 60 years of cutting hair in the village but the part he and his shop played in the Otford community went far beyond just his hairdressing skills. To show their gratitude, a collection was organised by villagers and former customers and the money raised was put towards the table and benches at the village rec.

It is a measure of the high regard and affection villagers have for Stan that a large crowd turned up on Sunday to witness the unveiling even though the rainy weather was far from picnic-like.

After a few words by John Edwards-Winser, one of Otford’s Sevenoaks District Councillors, the table was uncovered. Stan thanked the crowd and toasted the table with a glass of bubbly but said he would wait for better weather before trying it out properly!

* My Sevenoaks Community recently ran a feature on Stan Miles’s life following his retirement and you can read the full story by CLICKING HERE

Stan says a few word to the crowd at Otford Recreation Ground before the unveiling.