NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Mother's Day, Sunday 2nd March
Denise Thompson Designer Florist in the High Street are taking orders for Mothering Sunday (02 March 08) and the shop will be open on the big day with a lovely selection to cater for all your requirements with free delivery within the Otford area. To place an order please ring 01959 525009.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Allotments Association's President, Gordon Darby, will be giving his most interesting talk, "The Gardeners Year", followed by an open forum, on March 12 at 8pm in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall. Refreshments will be available and all are welcome. Entry to non-members is only £1. Further details are on their website www.otford.info/allotments

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club’s end of the month dance is tonight, Tony Trent will be calling with 'The Footnotes' from 8pm in Otford Church Hall in the High Street. As usual the cost of the evening is £1.50 and includes tea/coffee and biscuits. For more information please contact Peter George 01959 522105.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI report that as their February meeting fell on Valentine's Day two members read a selection of poems - some amusing some more heartfelt - on the theme of "love" before listening to their speaker, Brian Doe, who as one of the panel of judges in an annual competition for the best prison garden gave his talk. Brian visited prisons throughout the country for four weeks in the summer and his slides showed what had been achieved. The benefits of being able to create not only a garden but paths and walls designed in stone etc. were of enormous benefit to the prisoners.

Their next meeting at 7.30pm on March 13 in the Memorial Hall will feature a talk about the WI Denman College where new building work, to provide even more en suite bedrooms for students, is about to start.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Green Street Blues, the local women’s barbershop chorus, are looking for new members. This Award winning group, full of fun and variety, is a great way to meet new friends. Please contact Chris McKenzie 01689 813620 or email join.gsb08@yahoo.co.uk for your personal invitation to a rehearsal on a Tuesday evening at Badgers’ Mount. The group are also looking for a new Musical Director and Alison Zdzylowski can provide more information. Please telephone her on 01732 764291 or email join.gsb08@yahoo.co.uk for details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist churches informal Café Evening at 6.30pm on Sunday March 2 is an opportunity to visit the new church halls, enjoy a coffee and cake, a chat with friends, read the paper and soak up the relaxing experience. For further details please contact Sue Ward 01689 869081.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Wine Club have started selling tickets for their Spring Buffet on Wednesday April 2nd. There will be a cabaret during the evening and Brenda Montague is preparing the cold buffet. Tickets for this event cost £11.50 to members with guests tickets £13.00. For further information on this event please contact their Secretary 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tables for the Three Peaks Challenge Boot Sale on Saturday March 22nd in the Memorial Hall are selling fast. PCSO Dave Birchall, Community Warden Paul Robertson, and Assistant Parish Clerk Sue Stephenson are undertaking the ‘3 Peaks Challenge’ to raise money for Otford Primary Early Years and Shoreham Pre-school. If you would like to reserve a table at a cost of £8 please contact Sue Stephenson on 01959 524808 or evenings 01959 523789. Refreshments will be available.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players are holding a Quiz at 7.30pm on Saturday March 15 in the Memorial Hall. If you would like to participate please telephone Marian Wills 01959 522856.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Love to sing? Want to try something different? Go and meet Green Street Blues the local women’s barbershop chorus. Award winning, full of fun and variety – a great way to meet new friends. The local contact is Chris McKenzie so give her a call on 01689 813620 or email join.gsb08@yahoo.co.uk for your personal invitation to a rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Badgers’ Mount.

The group are also looking for a new Musical Director - for more information, please call Alison Zdzylowski on 01732 764291 or email join.gsb08@yahoo.co.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Heart of the Community is in full swing and to win a share of the £12,000 for local projects you need to enter now. You can get an application form by telephoning 01892 686894 or enter via the website www.thisiscourier.co.uk/heart.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild meet in the Memorial Hall at 10am on Saturday to work on their own projects and at 2pm in the afternoon Carol Naylor will give a talk entitled ‘From Hats to Hangings’. Tea and homemade cake will be provided in the afternoon. For further information please contact Pat Curtis 01959 532391.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist Church is holding an informal Café Evening at 6.30pm on Sunday March 2. This is an opportunity to visit the new church halls, enjoy a coffee and cake, a chat with friends, read the paper and soak up this relaxing experience. Everyone is welcome. For further details please contact Sue Ward 01689 869081.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Wine Club are holding a Film Evening on Wednesday February 27th. This year they are privileged to have Reg Lancaster as a guest who will be showing a programme of his own films. Besides being the chief cameraman for the Daily Express for many years Reg is a renowned internationally acclaimed film maker and has won the highest British and International awards possible for his work. This promises to be a memorable evening with ice creams in the interval, and a mystery raffle with prizes donated by the members. Members please take along a gift wrapped prize. The evening is free to members with visitors charged £3.

The Club have started selling tickets for their Spring Buffet on Wednesday April 2nd. There will be a cabaret during the evening and Brenda Montague is preparing the cold buffet. Members £11.50, guests £13.00. If you would like more information please telephone 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Three Peaks Challenge Boot Sale will be on Saturday March 22nd in the Memorial Hall between 9.00 and 12.30. If you would like to reserve a table at a cost of £8 please contact Sue Stephenson on 01959 524808 or evenings 01959 523789. Refreshments will be available. PCSO Dave Birchall, Community Warden Paul Robertson, and Assistant Parish Clerk Sue Stephenson are undertaking the ‘3 Peaks Challenge’ to raise money for Otford Primary Early Years and Shoreham Pre-school.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
To reserve a table at Otford Players Quiz at 7.30pm on Saturday March 15 in the Memorial Hall please telephone Marian Wills 01959 522856.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's church is holding working parties on the second Saturday morning of each month throughout the year, the first being on March 8th at 9.30am. Could you be persuaded to earmark the second Saturday morning each month for a session with them. Enjoy healthy exercise in the fresh air, tidying hedges, borders and assorted corners of the churchyard. Everyone welcome.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Historical Society next meet at 8pm on Wednesday February 20th in the Memorial Hall to hear Chris Baker talk on the unusual subject of ‘Are you being served’ about the history of shopping in Dartford. Visitors are most welcome.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild meet at 10am on the last Saturday of every month in the Memorial Hall, except for March and June when meetings will be held in the church hall. Mornings are usually spent working on members own projects, or on an on-going branch project, and the afternoon sessions start at 2pm often with a speaker.

On February 23rd Carol Naylor will give a talk entitled ‘From Hats to Hangings’ and tea and homemade cake will be provided in the afternoon. For further information please contact Pat Curtis 01959 532391.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Methodist Church would like to invite old and new friends to join them for an informal Café Evening of coffee and cakes, chatting with friends, reading the paper and soaking up a relaxing experience at 6.30pm on Sunday March 2. If you have not yet visited the new church halls, next to the library, please do go along and enjoy the company, you will be made very welcome. For further details please contact Sue Ward 01689 869081.

Coffee and a chat are also available every Friday between 10am and 12 noon in the church halls. Meet your friends, or make new ones while enjoying a relaxing break. Children are catered for and everyone is welcome. Just go along or ring Kath Pawlett 01959 522196 for further details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Joy Watt of Enerjoy invites you to exercise to music at Dunton Green School every Monday night from 7pm. This friendly class is suitable for beginners and concentrates on maintaining mobility by stretching and utilising all muscle groups. Simply turn up in tracksuit and trainers or ring Joy on 01959 525364 for further details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Players are holding a Quiz on Saturday March 15 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.

SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
Firefighters free woman from car
A woman had to be cut free from a car after a collision in Otford.

The incident happened in Bubblestone Road at 12.41pm today.

Two cars were involved and Sevenoaks firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the woman who was trapped. [more]

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
11+ assessment may move to September
Kent's parents could know their child's 11+ assessment before deciding which secondary school to apply for after Kent County Council's Cabinet agreed, at their meeting today (6 February), to move the Kent Test to September.

Families across the county were asked for their views on moving the date and the majority voted in favour, although there were reservations from other admissions authorities in Kent. With the backing of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State for Education will now be asked to make a final decision, which is expected before the end of May. [more]

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Oast WI meets this morning at 9.30am in the Memorial Hall to hear George Puddefoot give gardening advice on baskets and borders.

There is a free crèche at every meeting, tea/coffee is 50p, and your first visit is free, second visit £3 and annual membership is £27. For further information please telephone Jane Dean 01732 460512.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Coffee and a chat are available every Friday between 10am and 12 noon in the new Methodist church halls, next to the library. Meet your friends, or make new ones while enjoying a relaxing break. Children are catered for and everyone is welcome.

Just go along or ring Kath Pawlett 01959 522196 for further details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society’s Spring Show will be held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday March 29 between 2.15 and 4.15pm. Categories include Spring flowers, photography, flower arrangements, cookery and junior classes and 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
Otford Afternoon WI meet at 2pm on Tuesday February 12 in the Memorial Hall when Peter Jones of the National Trust will talk about the Trusts properties in the South East Region.

If you would like more information please telephone Joyce Shaw 01959 522736.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Singers of all ages are sought by Otford Players for their Elizabethan Evening on Saturday October 4. This entertainment is to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s accession to the throne and will take place in the Memorial Hall.

If you would like to take part then please telephone Ken Gunderson 01959 522709 or Marian Wills for further details.

The Players are also holding a Quiz Night on Saturday March 15 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.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Volunteers are required please for 1-3 hours on Saturday at 9.30am to finish the hedge clearing along the footpath between the Scout Hut and Tudor Drive.

Please take strong gloves, secateurs, loppers, a rake and a strong broom if possible. Coffee/tea and biscuits will be provided. For information please telephone 01959 522384.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Volunteer Transport Group urgently need more volunteer drivers to provide transport for local people to attend clinics and other appointments, mainly in the Sevenoaks area. Their passengers have no other way of reaching their appointments so volunteers are a vital part of their lives.

If you could spare a few hours once a week, or perhaps be on call occasionally, then please contact 01732 458931 between 9am and 1pm.