What’s on the menu this weekend? You can sample home grown food at Otford allotments or a taste of Spain at the church centre

POP-UP RESTAURANT: St Bartholomew’s Church is holding a Spanish Pop-up Restaurant from 6.30pm on Saturday 20 July in the church centre with a suggested minimum donation of £20 per person. Tables of 6+ can be booked or the organisers can add you to a table. Enjoy an evening of a variety of Spanish foods and good company. To book, call Mags Southgate via the church office on: 01959 523185.

ALLOTMENTS OPEN DAY: Residents are invited to an open day at Otford Allotments from 10am until noon on Saturday 20 July. All are welcome to walk around the lovely area which is next to the tennis courts on the Otford High Street Recreation Ground. There will be a tasting table with samples of the produce grown by the allotment holders. Their scarecrows will also be on show and you can vote for the best one.

READING CHALLENGE: Kent Libraries Summer Reading Challenge began on Saturday 13 July and finishes on Saturday September 14. The challenge is designed to encourage children aged 4-11 years to read six books during the school summer holidays. Children collect stickers and other incentives along the way and get a medal and a certificate when they finish reading all six books.

The challenge for 2019 is called ‘Space Chase’ and has been inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Lorraine, the Otford Librarian, welcomes all primary school aged children to go and join Otford library, if they haven’t already done so, and participate in the Summer Reading Challenge. Over the years she has seen many children thoroughly enjoy taking part in this event and as a result they have developed a love of reading.

Otford Art Group members are producing ‘space themed’ paintings to complement the children’s summer reading challenge. The paintings will be ‘hanging from the ceiling’, so do pop into the library over the summer and take a look.

1940s SOCIETY: Women Artists of World War Two will be the subject of a talk by Carol Harris to members of the 1940s Society during their next meeting at 8pm on Friday 26 July in the Otford Memorial Hall. Carol makes a welcome return to the village to talk about the important role played by women war artists during the conflict in producing a unique and influential record of life in Britain and elsewhere during the war years. Visitors are welcome at meetings for a small charge and refreshments are available. You can find out more about the 1940s Society via its website at www.1940.co.uk/ where you can also subscribe to the Society free magazine.

FAMILY HISTORY: The North West Kent Family History Society (NWKFHS) will be holding their regular meetings in the memorial hall, joining the popular Otford and District Historical Society and 1940s Society at this venue and details of their future meetings will be listed in this column. You can find out more about the NWKFHS at its website at: www.nwkfhs.org.uk/

NEW LOOK FOR TEA GARDEN: The Otford-based Hospice of Hope charity has just renovated their delightful patio tea garden at the rear of their premises in the High Street. Here you can enjoy morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas seven days a week. Their scones are legendary and have received praise from all corners of the globe. In the 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 while supporting the charity, which is largely staffed by volunteers, at the same time. If you would like to volunteer and could spare three or more hours a week to help. please speak to Julie or Cornel by phoning 01959 524322. Or to help with administrative tasks in their offices call 01959 525110. Alternatively, you can email: office@hospiceofhope.co.uk

QUIZ NIGHT WITH SUPPER: There will be a quiz night starting at 7.30pm on Thursday 25 July at the St Bartholomew’s Church centre to raise funds for Pursue, a charity set up to support community transformation in Kenya. Put together your own team of up to six or just go along and join a team. Tickets are £15 and include a welcome drink and supper. There will also be a bar. You can sign up in advance by going to: https://www.pursue.org.uk/quiz

ROCKDALE SENIOR LIVING is the Waitrose Green Coin Community Scheme’s chosen charity this month so please remember to collect your coin when you are shopping and insert it into the Rockdale box to help raise funds.

OPEN GARDEN: This Saturday (20 July) and Sunday (21 July) Bennet Smith and Suzanne Healy are opening their garden at 142 Cramptons Road, Sevenoaks (TN14 5DZ), for the National Garden Scheme, between 11am – 5.30pm. There will be refreshments and a plant stall. Entry is £3.50 (children free). Their garden was named Sevenoaks District ‘Best Back Garden’ by Coolings in Bloom last year. They would love to welcome everyone into their very small leafy oasis.

 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