New members welcome for new season at Otford Petanque Club

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.

1940s SOCIETY meets at 7.30pm tomorrow, (Friday 29 March, in Otford Memorial Hall to hear about The Biggin Hill Memorial Museum from Jemma Davey.  The long-awaited Biggin Hill Memorial Museum opened its doors to the public in late January after four years of development and fundraising.  Museum Director, Jemma Davey, will explore the significance of the heritage of RAF Biggin Hill and the making of Biggin Hill Memorial Museum. Refreshments are available and visitors are very welcome. non-members entrance fee is £3.

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

SEVENOAKS RSPB: The next meeting on 4 April sees them return to these shores when Colin Page, a Rye-based natural history specialist and photographer will be giving a presentation on the Coast and Islands around Britain. This presentation of wildlife and scenery starts at 7.45 pm at the Otford Memorial Hall.   Admission is £2.50 for local group members and £3.50 for non members.

As well as monthly presentations they have two free field trips each month, and the best way to learn bird watching is to be with experienced birders.  On Wednesday 27 March there is a chance to tour the RSPB reserve at Dungeness. 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 next month’s 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 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@hospicesofhope.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