VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club meet tonight in the Church Hall, High Street, at 8pm to dance to records called by David Jacks. The range of dances covers Folk, Square and Barn dances of English, American, Scottish and Irish origin and the emphasis is on enjoyment rather than technical excellence. You are welcome to go along or to telephone Peter George 01959 522105 for more information.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society is organising a Spring Show in the Memorial Hall on Saturday March 29 between 2.15 and 4.15pm. Admission is 50p, under 16’s free, and refreshments will be available. Categories include Spring flowers, photography, flower arrangements, cookery and junior classes. If you would like more information please contact Janet Finney 01959 523760, email gardeners@otford.net or visit their website www.otford.info/gardeners.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Join Otford Afternoon WI on Tuesday February 12 in the Memorial Hall at 2.00pm to hear Peter Jones of the National Trust talk about the Trusts properties in the South East Region. You are welcome to go along to this meeting as a visitor and if you would like more information please telephone Joyce Shaw 01959 522736.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players are holding a Quiz Night on Saturday March 15th from 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall. Tables of six can be booked at £5 per head or you can go along as an individual. There will be a Raffle but take along your own drinks and nibbles. To reserve a table, or a place, please telephone Marian Wills 01959 522856.

Advance notice is also given of an Elizabethan Evening the Players are holding on Saturday October 4. This entertainment is to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s accession to the throne and male, female and children singers are wanted to take part in this event. Please telephone Ken Gunderson 01959 522709 or Marian Wills for further details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist Church's Café Evening, entitled Music Matters, is on Sunday in the new church hall at 6.30pm. Enjoy coffee and cakes while listening to some pieces of music and exploring how music speaks to us both in good ways and unhelpful ways. You are invited to go along and join in or telephone Sue Ward 01689 689081 for further information.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society Cheese and Wine evening is on Tuesday in the Memorial Hall at 8pm. This is a very informal and social evening and admission is £2 to include wine and cheese. Everyone welcome.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Otford – Precigne
We hosted a 15 year old boy from Precigne, near Le Mans, last autumn for 6 weeks, in 6 different families, while he attended a local school. Both he and his hosts enjoyed the experience. Also pupils from St Michael’s School have been exchanging correspondence and small gifts with a Primary School in Precigne.

During the weekend of 9-11 May 2008 we shall be welcoming a group of 12 visitors from Precigne to Otford. If you, your family or organisation would be interested in meeting our visitors that weekend or in visiting Precigne or in making contact in the future please contact Jane Lawrey on 01959 522360, as soon as possible please, so that we may finalise our programme.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Afternoon WI next meets on Tuesday February 12 in the Memorial Hall at 2.00pm when Peter Jones will speak on the Properties of the National Trust in the South East Region. If you are interested in hearing more about this talk, and the institute, then please telephone Joyce Allen 01959 522736 or go along to their next meeting as a visitor.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Goshinaikikwai Aikido club is looking for new members, aged 16+, male or female, who would like to take up the sport of Aikido.

Aikido is essentially a defensive martial art and is based on the use of circular movements by which an attacker's aggressive force is turned against itself. It exercises the whole body, it teaches and develops flexibility, co-ordination, balance and quick reaction and is an effective method of practical self defense. Beginners are individually taught the basics of Aikido before being absorbed into the main class.

If you are looking for an interesting method of keeping fit and learning a mentally absorbing martial art then go along to the Scout Hall, Station Road, Otford, on a Tuesday at 8.00pm, or for further information ring Dudley Osborne 01959 522011 or visit their website www.otfordaikido.co.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Banish the January blues with Otford and District Wine Club by celebrating Australia Day on Wednesday January 30 with an Australian Wine and Cultural Evening in the Memorial Hall at 8pm. This evening is free to members with guests being charged £4. If you would like further details please contact the Secretary 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Enjoy coffee and cakes while listening to some pieces of music and exploring how music speaks to us both in good ways and unhelpful ways at Otford Methodist churches Café Evening in the new church hall on Sunday February 3rd at 6.30pm. You are invited to go along and join the evening entitled Music Matters or to telephone Sue Ward 01689 689081 for further information.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
You can find out what is on Otford Gardeners' Society’s calendar this year by going along to their annual Cheese and Wine evening on Tuesday February 5 in the Memorial Hall starting at 8pm. This is a very informal and social evening and admission is £2 to include wine and cheese. Everyone is welcome.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tony Grogan is participating in October in the The Annapurna Experience Trek Challenge in Nepal which is one of the most spectacular and varied treks in the world to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

He has already paid towards his fare and has to raise a minimum of £3200 to take part in the event. He hopes to raise much more than this and is seeking sponsorship. If you are able to sponsor him please make your cheque payable to Macmillan Cancer Support and send it him at 93 Willow Park, Otford TN14 5NF, telephone 01959 523649, email tony.grogan@homecall.co.uk or visit his just giving website at http://www.justgiving.com/tony-grogan.

SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
Young achiever nets village prize
Imogen Chandler has been named as the first Otford Young Achiever for her dedication and service to the village. The 15-year-old, of Tudor Drive, was nominated for the new award by her mother Jo and sister Charlotte. [more]

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI had a good attendance at their January meeting and heard excellent speaker, Peter Jones, who used to work for the fingerprint branch of New Scotland Yard. He took them through the development of fingerprinting from the early days, when the huge possibilities were realised, to today’s highly-sophisticated techniques. Early in February members from Otford Evening WI will join a coach-load of WI members from neighbouring institutes to visit the Textile Treasures of the WI Exhibition in Brighton, and at their meeting on February 14 they will welcome Brian Doe who will talk about Gardening in Prisons and the benefits and pleasures it gives to inmates.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Guides would like to thank all those who supported their 2007 Christmas guide post boxes in the Library and Parish council office. 2007 was the 25th year of Guide and Brownie collection and delivery, and was a record one with over 1200 cards delivered in Otford village, 150 up from 2006. A total of £385 was raised which has been divided between the girls’ chosen charities Hospice in the Weald and Valence School Children’s Wish List.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Remember 1907 - The Harvest video has so far raised £260 for Kent Air Ambulance Trust. It recalls something of the story of our village and the hop harvest of 100 years ago and is available by post at £7 from Mr G Darby telephone 01959 523339 and from the Heritage Centre.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Embroiderers Guild meets on Saturday January 26 at 10.00am in the Memorial Hall for ‘Own Work’ and at 2.00pm Judith Songhurst and Gina Ferrari will talk about ‘Life after C & G Machine Embroidery’. For further details please contact Jane Barratt 01732 833588.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners' Society are holding their annual Cheese and Wine evening on Tuesday February 5 in the Memorial Halll starting at 8pm. This is a very informal and social evening with a chance to see what is on the Society's calendar for the coming year. Admission of £2 includes wine and cheese and everyone is welcome.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Bartholomew Wind Band, conducted by Jean Kelsey, will perform in St Bartholomew’s church on Saturday February 2 at 7.30pm together with their guests the Plumstead Recorder Consort. Refreshments will be available and tickets cost £5 with proceeds divided between Hospice in the Weald and church funds. For further information please contact Sylvia Grafton 01732 452117.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A reminder that Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) are now empowered to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for those depositing litter, fly-posting, graffiti or allowing dog fouling. These are fixed penalty notices of £50 if paid in ten days, although for the first three offences the penalty is £80 if not paid within this time.

Please help keep the village beautiful thus avoiding the necessity for these notices to be served.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Calling all village clubs, groups, associations and companies.

If you have published your programme for 2008 please let me have a copy so that your events can be mentioned in this column. I can be contacted as above or by dropping information into Hospices of Hope Romania’s shop in the High Street, marked for my attention. Thank you for all your support in 2007 and please keep your information coming.
[ ed. also for publishing on www.otford.info please ]

PARISH COUNCIL - JANUARY NEWSLETTER
The January edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Guide Christmas Post, Young Achiever Award 2007, Police Surgery, 3 Peaks Challenge, Otford Allotments Association, Use of Mobile Phones, Newsletter Deliverers, Otford Gardeners’ Society, Appointment of Vicar for Otford, Knole DFAS, Palace Park Wood, Otford Oast WI, T’ai Chi, Picture of the Month, Knighton Road 1957 – 2007, Otford Remembered 1907 – The Harvest, Sevenoaks DFAS, Otford Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild, Otford Methodist Wednesday Afternoons Women’s Fellowship, Bartholomew Concert, Sevenoaks Music Club, Otford & District Historical Society 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.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The first meeting of 2008 for Otford Gardeners' Society will be the annual Cheese and Wine evening on Tuesday February 5th in the Memorial Hall starting at 8pm. This is a very informal and social evening with a chance to see what is on the Society's calendar for the coming year. Admission of £2 includes wine and cheese and everyone is welcome.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Mary Forlenza, "a very funny lady" will be talking to Otford Oast W.I. about Great Lovers at their meeting on January 17th and they will be delighted to welcome visitors as well as members. Meeting start at 9.30am in the Memorial Hall and there is a crèche for the younger children. Your first visit is free but if you would like more details please telephone Patsy Groom 01959 524156

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
On Wednesday January 16th at 8pm in the Memorial Hall, Ed Thompson, our local historian, is giving a talk to the Historical Society entitled ‘All roads lead to Otford’ which concentrates on the history of the four main routes into the village. Over one hundred pictures ranging from the 1880s to the 1980s will illustrate the travelers progress towards the centre of our beautiful village. Visitors are welcome for an entry fee of £1 or please contact Cliff Ward 01959 522384 for further information.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
December 2007 saw the golden jubilee of Knighton Road, the first major development in Otford in the 1950’s. 12 original residents celebrated the occasion with a Christmas lunch at The Crown and it was also a golden wedding year for two couples present, Mr & Mrs G Darby and Mr & Mrs G Denton.

The last of the 61 houses was occupied on December 5th 1957, the day after the Lewisham train disaster and during the period known as ‘the great smog’. Sadly one of the original residents, former Parish Chairman Reg Lythaby died a few days before the commemorative lunch but glasses were raised in his memory and to honour the many people from Knighton Road, each of them newcomers to Otford, who revitalised the community taking leading roles in almost every organisation in the village. A proud record.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
JR's School of Motoring
Your local established Driving Instructor here in Otford - New Pupils Welcome.

John Ward - registered ADI
Patient & Understanding Instructor
Manual & Automatic Lessons available
Nervous pupils, Confidence lessons
Motorway lessons, Pass Plus
Tel No: 01959 525260 Mobile No: 07887 721735

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
The Crown, Otford - Burns Night Dinner - Friday, 25 January
Why not celebrate Burns Night at The Crown? Mark & Fiona, who took over in June last year, have been busy putting together a menu for those that wish to have a Burns Night Meal in a relaxing environment overlooking Otford Pond. Bookings are being taken per table. We can accommodate 32 people maximum. The meal will be for arrival at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.
Burns Night Menu | Burns Night Booking Details | What's On @ The Crown
The Crown at Otford, Public House and Restaurant
10 High St, Otford, Sevenoaks, TN14 5PQ
Tel: 01959 522847 E-mail: fengiescatering@aol.com

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Members of Otford Evening WI will be entertained by Peter Jones at their meeting on Thursday January 10 when he talks about ‘A Career in Fingerprints’. If you would like to go along or get more details please telephone Diana Jeremiah 01959 522981.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Brenda Hambrook is starting Hatha Yoga classes on Tuesday January 8 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 07879 880447.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Wine Club’s Christmas dinner dance in December was absolutely fantastic with the Memorial Hall beautifully decorated and a delicious meal prepared by Catercraft, followed by dancing to Ricky Douglas.

They intend to banish the January blues by celebrating Australia Day on Wednesday January 30 with an Australian Wine and Cultural Evening. Some people claim the Ossies don’t possess much of the latter so they invite you to go along and taste plenty of the former and learn about the latter. As usual this event will be held in the Memorial Hall starting at 8pm and the evening is free to members with guests being charged £4. If you would like further details please contact the Secretary 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Joy Watt invites you to stick to your New Year’s Resolution to keep fit by joining one of her Exercise to Music classes. These are held on Monday nights between 7pm and 8pm at Dunton Green primary school and on Wednesday nights between 6.45 and 7.45pm at Farningham village hall. Everyone will be made very welcome and further information can be obtained by telephoning Joy Watt 01959 525364.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Start the New Year with a Bang with Otford Oast WI on Thursday January 17 when Mary Forlenza, a very funny lady, will be talking about ‘Great Lovers’. Meetings start at 9.30am in the Memorial Hall and there is a free crèche. Your first visit is free, second £3 and annual membership is £26. For further details please telephone Barbara Craig 01732 454693.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Dance off your over indulgence over the holiday period by joining Otford Folk Dance Club on Thursday in the church hall, opposite The Bull. Dancing starts at 8pm and all dances are called and walked through with the emphasis on enjoyment rather than perfection. For further details please telephone Peter George 01959 522105.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Thank you all for your support during 2007 and please keep your information coming during the New Year. I need copy by Sunday afternoon prior to publication date and this can be emailed, telephoned or dropped into Hospices of Hope shop in the High Street, marked for my attention.