Latest Otford news

OTFORD SOCIETY’S AGM will be held tonight at 8pm on Thursday 19 April in the Memorial Hall when the current committee of offices and trustees will stand together for re-election.  Once the formal business is complete there will be reports on village projects including the Traffic Management Working Group and an outline of the Society’s fundraising plans for 2018.

VOCE CONCERT. If you enjoy choral music, ranging from the 16th century composer Allegri to a modern close-harmony arrangement of John Brown’s Body, and a selection of classic hymns of pilgrimage, then the VOCE Concert being held in St Barts church at 7.30pm on Saturday (21 April) shouldn’t be missed.  As well as music performed by the full choir there will be items by a smaller ensemble – with string accompaniment, and an organ solo. This gifted group of formal choral scholars from Trinity College, Cambridge and friends return to St Bart’s Church and tickets at £15, which includes refreshments, are available from the church office, mornings only 01959 523185.  Do go along with your friends to hear this talented choir on a spring evening in the newly refurbished church.

OTFORD VILLAGERS are invited to join Tonbridge and Malling Ramblers who will be walking from the village to Shoreham and back on Sunday (22 April). The distance is approximately 5.5 miles, starting at the High Street Car Park, opposite The Bull, at 10am.  This is a moderate grade walk with one steep climb at the start and a few stiles but views over Otford are well worth it. The walk is expected to finish around 1pm when there will be a  visit to the pub at the end.  For further details contact Graham, 07716 170900 or 01732 446101.

HEARING DOGS for Deaf People is holding a Great British Dog Walk from Ightham Mote at 9.30am on Saturday (21 April).  The cost is £10 if booked online, or £12 on the day – children free.  Take along your family, friends, dog and a picnic.  A great way to spend a day while helping change deaf people’s lives.  To sign up go to:

www.greatbritishdogwalk.org.

OTFORD HERITAGE CENTRE is run entirely by volunteers and one of its present great needs is for someone to lead the volunteer stewards, in particular by arranging the rota covering Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.  If this is of interest to you, or you would like to know what other vacancies there are at this time, please ring Doug Cracknell, the chair of the management committee on 01959 522325. 

OTFORD METHODIST CHURCH raised £1,346.50 from tickets, donations and Gift Aid, at its Shrove Tuesday Fair Feast. The charity funds are being sent to All We Can for its work in Bangladesh amongst the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees driven there from the adjoining Myanmar.

SEVENOAKS RSPB GROUP volunteers are holding two walks in Knole Park to look at birds and listen to their songs on Saturday (21 April).  The walks begin at 11.30am and 2pm and will last approximately one hour, meeting at, and setting off from, a point just in front of Knole House.  All are welcome to join in, though no dogs please (except Assistance Dogs), and if you have binoculars, you will find them useful.  Due to the steep slopes and contours of the ground, the route is unfortunately unsuitable for wheelchairs, etc.  There is no charge for the walks, but non-National Trust members will be charged £4 for car parking.   Further information, including more about Knole, is available on the National Trust website  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole.  For further information contact 01959 563530 or email   nobbsbrian@gmail.com

OTFORD MEMORIAL HALL is the venue for Sevenoaks RSPB’s AGM on Thursday May 3. It will be followed by a talk by Alan Loweth on ‘Broadwater Warren, how to make a nature reserve’.   Alan is Volunteer Co-ordinator at the RSPB’s Wealden Office, and will describe how this post-war conifer plantation is being returned to its original heathland habitat, for the benefit of species such as nightjar and woodlark.   For further information contact Jean Nobbs 01959 563530 or email  j.nobbs3@gmail.com.  The meeting starts at 7.45pm in the Memorial Hall with car parking free from 6pm.

OTFORD PARISH COUNCIL is continuing updating the Millennium list of clubs, groups, societies and charities in Otford to go on to the Parish website, for the benefit of the whole community.  To this end, could all village groups send Mary Evans details of a contact person, email address and phone number with the title of the group/society.  This can be sent to mary.a.evans@btinternet.com,  or to the Parish Office.

OTFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB meets at 8pm every Thursday throughout the year in the Otford church hall, High Street, opposite The Bull. On Thursday 27 April Carol Hewson will be calling to recorded music. The cost is £1.50. which includes tea or coffee.  All kinds of mixed folk dances are on offer and all are welcome.  Whether you have little or no knowledge, the caller will give help and your fellow dancers will also assist you. The emphasis is on friendly enjoyment rather than perfection If you would like more information ring Mary Butson, 01732 458356.

ST BATHOLOMEW’S CHURCH is holding its annual service to commemorate departed loved ones at 3pm on Sunday 6 May.  All welcome to attend.