VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club are holding a Christmas party in the Memorial Hall (off the Otford car park) from 8pm to 10.30pm on Thursday December 20, dancing to the Pilgrim's Way band. The cost is £1.50 and during the evening there will be an American supper. They ask that you take along food enough for yourself (and your partner) to be added to everyone else's food.

On New Year's Day (January 1st 2008) they will be dancing to the Footnotes with Eddie calling from 8pm. to 10.30pm. This dance will also be held in the Memorial Hall. Tickets cost £6 and are available by telephoning 01959 524609 or they can be bought on the door. Again there will be an American supper and everyone should take enough food for themselves and their partner as before.

More information about the club, and the above events, is available by contacting Peter George on 01959 522105. The Club wishes their members and readers a prosperous New Year.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Members and guests of Otford Evening WI were entertained by violinist Kai Choi at their last meeting on December 13th. Kai played a selection of pieces ranging from Scott Joplin to Shostakovich, with a break for members to enjoy a delicious light supper with wine or fruit juice. Then back to Kai’s delightful playing when his repertoire included The Gadfy and Making Whoopee, winding up, of course, with a few carols.

Their next meeting is on 10th January 2008 when Peter Jones will talk about “A Career in Fingerprints”. Please telephone Diana Jeremiah 01959 522981 for more details or if you would like to go along as a guest. It sounds intriguing.

Members send greetings to everyone who supported their Boot Sales and the Cake and Plant stalls at the village fete during the past year – your backing is invaluable in helping keep their WI thriving and very much alive.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A Hatha Yoga class starts on Tuesday January 8th in the church hall for beginners and all abilities. Lessons are in term time between 7.30pm and 9pm and cost £8, although there are discounts available.

For further details and to reserve a place please contact Brenda Hambrook on 07879 880447.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Road Safety Survey
The Otford Society would like to thank all those who responded to the recent road safety survey, carried out with the help of colleagues in RADIO. We received almost 300 responses, which we are now analysing. We plan to produce a report which will be available to residents through the Otford Society and Otford Net and sent to the Parish and other councils and to Kent Highways, who are all very interested in and supportive of what we have done. Very many thanks also to the shops in Otford which displayed collection boxes for the replies: Otford Pharmacy, Yvonne’s Convenience Store, the One Stop Shop and Otford Post Office.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
There is still time to use the Guides and Brownies delivery system for your Christmas cards in Otford village. Stamps cost 20p per card and all the proceeds will be divided between Hospice in the Weald and Valence School Children’s Wish List. There is a post box in Otford Library and in the Parish office Monday to Friday 8.45am to 12 noon until Tuesday December 18. Early posting will help ensure this 25th year is a great success.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tickets for RADIO’s Christmas party and disco at 9pm in the Memorial Hall on Saturday December 15th are still available from Bryan Symons 07733 228828 or Keith Stockman 07798 767770.

There will be free mulled wine and nibbles and a licensed bar. Funds are needed to fight the threats by developers so help to resist these and have a good time in the process by buying tickets to the disco.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's Carol Concert is on Sunday at 7.30pm. The concert is an informal evening with food and drink supplied during the interval in the new church centre.

The choir will perform a wide variety of Christmas music, including compositions by John Rutter, unaccompanied carols, arrangements of European items and two organ solos. Admission is £5 (children under 16 free) with proceeds going to the Choir Fund and The Childrens Society. For further information please telephone Peter Venables 01959 523975.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks link of Hospice in the Weald’s Christmas Bazaar in Otford on Saturday November 17th was a great success raising over £2000 for the charity. The organisers would like to thank all those who attended and donated, as well as all the volunteers who gave their time and energy so willingly.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Oast WI meet in the Memorial Hall at 9.30am this morning (Thursday) for their Christmas party with ‘A stocking full of rhymes’. Stella Redman will be entertaining members with her humorous readings and guests from other Institutes will be present. Refreshments will be served and there is a free crèche. Guests are always welcome and your first visit is free, second visit £3 and annual membership £26. For further information please telephone Barbara Craig 01732 454693.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Guides and Brownies will deliver Christmas cards in Otford village for the 25th year in succession and this year the stamps have been designed by the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. As well as the post box in Otford Library there is a second box in the Parish office Monday to Friday 8.45am to 12 noon until Tuesday December 18. Stamps cost 20p per card and all the proceeds will be divided between Hospice in the Weald and Valence School Children’s Wish List. Early posting will help ensure this 25th year is a great success.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
RADIO’s Christmas party and disco is less than a fortnight away. The village’s character is under threat like never before - Well Road is just the latest example of “garden grab”. The village is a prime site for development, with its good rail link to London and KCC is selling off some land by the chalk pit, which RADIO are trying to stop. Funds are needed to fight the threats so help to resist the developers and have a good time in the process by buying tickets to the disco on Saturday December 15 in the Memorial Hall starting at 8pm. There will be free mulled wine and nibbles and a licensed bar. For tickets telephone Bryan Symons 07733 228828 or Keith Stockman 07798 767770.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Afternoon WI meet next Tuesday for an interesting talk by Mr P Shearan entitled ‘Bah Humbug’. The meeting starts at 2pm in the Memorial Hall and further information is available from Joyce Shaw 01959 522736.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Tree of Light service will take place at 7.30pm on Friday on the village green, followed at 8pm by the traditional united churches carols around the Christmas tree. Seasonal refreshments will be provided in the new St Bartholomew’s church centre after the carol singing.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's Church is holding its annual Carol Concert at 7.30pm on Sunday December 16.

This years concert will break new ground in that it will be the first time the event has enjoyed the use of the new church centre which provides not only a refreshment area , but toilets (for the first time in the 900 year history of this ancient church). The concert is an informal evening, with food and drink supplied during the interval. The choir, directed by Kevin Grafton, will perform a wide variety of Christmas music, including compositions by John Rutter, unaccompanied carols, arrangements of European items and two organ solos.

Admission is £5 (children under 16 free) with proceeds going to the Choir Fund and The Childrens Society. For further information please telephone Peter Venables 01959 523975.

PARISH COUNCIL - DECEMBER NEWSLETTER
The December edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Otford Christmas Shopping Festival, Police Surgery, Young Achiever Award, Personal Alarms, Tree of Light, Otford Village Information Online, Boxing, Otford Oast WI, Parking Leonard Avenue, Parking Bull Car Park, Otford Methodist Church Services, Otford Heritage Centre/ Parish Council, St Bartholomews Church Annual Carol Concert, Christmas / New Year Travel Details, Otford Allotments Association, Kent Police Special Constabulary, Holiday Refuse Collections, 5-a-side Football - GIRLS, Light Bulbs / Recycling, Knole DFAS, Picture of the Month, Otford Short Mat Bowls, Sevenoaks DFAS, Christmas tree Recycling and Planning matters.

You can contact the Parish Council at The School House, 21 High Street Tel: 01959 524808, e-mail parishcouncil@otford.net with office hours 08:30 - 12:30 Mon to Fri.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Otford Road Safety Survey
The Otford Society would like to thank all those who responded to the recent road safety survey, carried out with the help of colleagues in RADIO. We received almost 300 responses, which we are now analysing. We plan to produce a report which will be available to residents through the Otford Society and Otford Net and sent to the Parish and other councils and to Kent Highways, who are all very interested in and supportive of what we have done. Very many thanks also to the shops in Otford which displayed collection boxes for the replies: Otford Pharmacy, Yvonne’s Convenience Store, the One Stop Shop and Otford Post Office.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
RADIO - Urgent Message
The latest Well Road application for 21 houses has been recommended for approval by the planning officers. It will now be discussed at the Development Control Meeting, SDC Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks on Thursday 6th December commencing at 7pm. Anyone can and is encouraged to, attend in the public gallery to give moral support!
www.otford.info/radio