VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Primary School Summer Fete is on Saturday July 5 from 12 noon. Always an immensely popular event, this year will see the return of family favorites and new attractions such as face painting, a grand raffle, plate smashing, the coconut shy, strawberries and cream, plant stall, bouncy castles and assault course, teas and cakes, beer tent, BBQ and an opportunity to 'wet sponge' the headmaster Mr Denereaz.

There will be lots of entertainment including a football tournament, music, dancing and competitions in the main arena and school hall. Entrance is 70p, children free. As well as a fun day out for all the family, the summer fete is the major fund raising event of the year for the PTFA which enables the school to fund numerous items for use by the children, such as musical instruments, playground displays and interactive whiteboards.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Petanque Club play on the new purpose-built terrain on the recreation ground off the High Street every Thursday from 3pm and you are invited to join them. For further information contact the club secretary Margaret Chandler on 01959 523620.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Heritage Centre, High Street, has an exhibition on Oast Houses with old and new photographs of all Otfords oast houses and parish maps showing the location of the old hop gardens. The centre piece is a doll’s house style model of a working oast house. The Heritage Centre is open weekdays from 9.30am to 1pm and weekends between 2.30 and 4.30pm.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club meets tonight at 8pm in the Church Hall dancing to the Pilgrims Way Band with Eddie calling. All are welcome for a friendly evening of all kinds of folk dancing. The cost, including tea/coffee and biscuits, is £1.50. Contact Peter George 01959 522105 for more details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Support Kent Air Ambulance by attending Sevenoaks Friendship Centres Coffee Morning between 10am and noon in the Memorial Hall on Saturday July 5. There will be coffee, cakes and various stalls. To make a donation please contact Janet Chamberlain 01959 562075.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society Rose and Summer Show is on Saturday at 2.15pm in the Memorial Hall. The show will feature roses and summer flowers, early vegetables, photography, flowers arrangements, cookery and junior classes. For more details contact Janet Finney 01959 523760, e-mail gardeners@otford.net or visit their website www.otford.info/gardeners.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Copy for inclusion must now be to me please by the Wednesday preceding publication.
Due to the Sevenoaks Chronicle's new copy time/date requirements I need any information to me via email drake_kay@hotmail.com, phone 01959 522727 or fax 01959 525522. The earlier I receive the information the more likely it is that it will be included because of space restraints.
Many thanks, Kay Drake.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Petanque Club is enjoying play on the new purpose-built terrain on the recreation ground off the High Street and it is making good use of the tea-making facilities in the nearby Eric Dilley Pavilion.

You are invited to go along today (Thursday) at 3pm or any other Thursday at the same time. You will be most welcome and no previous experience is required.

For further information please contact the club secretary, Margaret Chandler, on 01959 523620.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's Fair starts at 2pm in the grounds of Castle House on Saturday by kind permission of Mark and Irene Roy.

There will be a wealth of stalls including bottles, books, toys, sweets, craft items, plants, white elephant, DVDs CDs and Videos and a Food Hall. There will also be a children’s art competition with the theme ‘Under the Sea’ and a single rose competition which is open to all. Fingers are being firmly crossed that the sun shines on one of the villages most popular events.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Oast WI meet this morning in the Memorial Hall between 9.30 and 11.30am. Dr. Suzanne Henwood, NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) Master Practitioner will tell members all about helping children learn to spell more effectively and confidently. There is a free crèche and your first visit is free, second costs £3 and annual membership £27. For more information please telephone Patsy Groom 01959 524156.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Oast Houses are the subject of the latest exhibition at the Heritage Centre in the High Street telling the story of how hops, the mainstay crop of the village for centuries, were dried, pressed and stored for market in the village oast houses. Old and new photographs of all Otfords oast houses are on display together with parish maps showing the location of the old hop gardens. The centre piece of the exhibition is a doll’s house style model of a working oast house where you can look inside to see the whole process take place.

The Heritage Centre is open weekdays from 9.30am to 1pm and weekends between 2.30 and 4.30pm.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Friendship Centre is holding a Coffee Morning between 10am and 12noon in the Memorial Hall on Saturday July 5 in aid of Kent Air Ambulance. As well as coffee and cakes there will be various stalls including books, bric-a-brac and plants.

If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation please contact Janet Chamberlain 01959 562075.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Chevening House Gardens host a one off traditional summer fair on Sunday June 29 in aid of Chevening School, although the house is not open to the public. The fun starts at 2.00pm and entry costs £2.00 per adult, 50p per child over 5 years.

Chevening is also the venue for a Summer Fair raising funds for Cancer Research UK on Sunday July 13 between 2pm and 6pm. Visitors can enjoy the impressive gardens, lake and giant maze as well as a host of stalls, live music, Kent Police dog display team, a pig roast, BBQ, and a Pimms and beer tent. Parking is free, guide dogs only, adults £3, under 16’s £1 and under 5’s free.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Society’s Annual Garden Party will be held between 6pm and 8pm on June 28 at The Corner House, The Green, Otford, by kind permission of Rod and Marianne Shelton.

Tickets cost £5 and are available from Carol Griffiths 01959 523140. If wet this event will be held in the Memorial Hall.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
South East Open Studios at Dibgate Farm, Chevening Road, Sundridge continue until Sunday. Otford sculptress Angela Bishops work can be viewed between 10am and 5pm today, Saturday and Sunday and tomorrow (Friday) the studio will be open until 8pm.

Angela can also be contacted on 01959 523203 or angela@dbishop29.fsnet.co.uk.

PARISH COUNCIL - JUN NEWSLETTER
The June edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Otford Village Fete, St Bartholomew’s Church Fair, Shoreham Village Fete, Police Surgery, Parking Leonard Avenue, Otford Society Garden Party, Otford Heritage Centre, Otford Village Memorial Hall, Otford Allotments Association, Otford Community Warden, Otford Primary School Fete, Otford Gardeners’ Society, 3 Peaks Challenge, Knole DFAS, Otford Afternoon WI, Otford Oast WI, Otford Wine Club, Picture of the Month, Sevenoaks DFAS, Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild, Otford Methodist Wednesday Afternoons Women’s Fellowship, South East Open Studios, Citizens Advice Bureau Surgery, Otford Library Hours and Events, Kemsing Health Walk, Otford Primary Top Draw, Transition Town 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
New DVD -- 'St Barts Building On'
The DVD covering the building of the new church centre will be available at St Bartholomews Fayre on Saturday 21st June. It includes Historical facts, the building process and dedication.

Also available is a DVD version of The Bells of St Bartholomew's.

Special Price £5 each.

SEVENOAKS CHRONICLE
Man injured in horror incident in Otford
A man was seriously injured when the agricultural JCB he was driving overturned onto a car with two people in it.

The JCB, which had a crane and weighed an estimated 10 tonnes, fell onto a Mercedes in St Michael's Drive, Otford shortly before 9am.

Both occupants miraculously escaped unharmed, but the driver of the JCB was not so lucky. [more]

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Teri Alford is holding a jumble sale on Saturday between 12-3pm in the Church Hall, High Street, to raise money for a Grand Canyon Trek she is doing in October in aid of The Children's Society. Admission to the jumble sale is 20p and refreshments will be available. The trek is over 6 days, covers 50 miles into the canyon, hiking in difficult terrain, and camping beneath the stars. She would love some sponsorship and her justgiving page is www.justgiving.com/terialford or you can phone her on 01732 451952 or 07961 889275.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Sevenoaks Friendship Centre is holding a Coffee Morning between 10am and 12noon in the Memorial Hall on Saturday July 5 in aid of Kent Air Ambulance. As well as coffee and cakes there will be various stalls including books, bric-a-brac and plants. If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation please contact Janet Chamberlain 01959 562075.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Historic Chevening House Gardens, rarely open to the public, hosts a one off traditional summer fair on Sunday June 29 in aid of Chevening School. Built in 1615, the Inigo Jones designed Chevening is the official residence of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and only opens its magnificent gardens for three special charity events a year. The house is not open to the public. This event is part of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival and offers a fantastic family afternoon out with attractions including Gun dog and falconry displays, Bouncy Castles, Balloon Entertainer, Beer, Pimms with Strawberries and Arts and Crafts Stalls The fun starts at 2.00pm and entry costs £2.00 per adult, 50p per child over 5 years.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Society advise members that their Annual Garden Party will be held between 6pm and 8pm on June 28 at The Corner House, The Green, Otford, by kind permission of Rod and Marianne Shelton. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Carol Griffiths 01959 523140. If wet this event will be held in the Memorial Hall.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
South East Open Studios has 11 local artists displaying their work at Dibgate Farm, Chevening Road, Sundridge. Otford sculptress Angela Bishop's work can be viewed between 10am and 5pm on the 7, 8, 11,12, 14, 15,18, 19, 21 and 22 and on Fridays 13 and 20 the studio will be open until 8pm. Angela can be contacted on 01959 523203 or angela@dbishop29.fsnet.co.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Admission is free to the Otford and Sevenoaks Book Fair on Saturday in the Memorial Hall between 9am and 2.30pm. Thousands of second hand books for the collector and avid reader will be on sale.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Mexican Evening at The Horns, Otford
Wednesday, 18th June we are having a Mexican Gourmet menu for this evening. £19.95 per person. For bookings, please telephone 01959 522604.

The Horns, Otford www.thehornsotford.co.uk
66 High Street, Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5PH

CANCELLED

OTFORD' SOCIETY
The June Newsletter is now online, with 'thoughts' from the Chairman Tony Wiltshire, news from Otford Fete 2008, the new exhibition 'From Poke to Pocket' at the Otford Heritage Centre, 'The Role of the PCSO' by Dennis Glasspool, Jeff Lee reporting on 'Traffic' and 'The Future of Fort Halstead' together with the latest news from many aspects of the Society in village life.

If you are not a member yet (over 1,100 in Otford), please consider joining the Otford Society, contact otfordsociety@otford.net.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Society's Annual Garden Party will be held between 6pm and 8pm on June 28 at The Corner House, The Green, Otford, by kind permission of Rod and Marianne Shelton. Tickets costing £5 are available from Carol Griffiths 01959 523140. If wet this event will be held in the Memorial Hall.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
South East Open Studios is being held this year between Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 22 and Otford sculptress Angela Bishop is exhibiting her work, along with 10 other local artists, at Dibgate Farm, Chevening Road, Sundridge. Work can be viewed between 10am and 5pm on the 7, 8, 11,12, 14, 15,18, 19, 21 and 22 and on Fridays 13 and 20 the studio will be open until 8pm. If you can’t get along to Dibgate Farm then Angela can arrange a private viewing at her home if you contact her on 01959 523203 or angela@dbishop29.fsnet.co.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Second Wind Concert Band is holding a Concert at 7.30pm on Friday July 4 at The Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall. Tickets cost £6 and include a glass of wine and other refreshments. If you play a woodwind or brass instruments at around Grade 4, or better, you might like to join this friendly band that plays at gigs or village fetes through the summer and a couple of concerts a year. Ring Judith Spurway 01732 456305 for more details.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Wine Club’s Summer BBQ will be held at Sidehill, Pilgrims Way, Kemsing on Sunday June 29 starting at 12.30pm. Please take your own liquid refreshments, glasses, chairs and cutlery. Free entry for members, guests £5. If you have any queries or need to know parking arrangements please ring the secretary on 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Climate change and the energy crisis are being looked at in a new and innovative way and the film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ will be shown on Tuesday June 17 at 8pm in the Memorial Hall as part of this initiative. Watching the film is free but it is £2 each to cover hall hire charges. If you would like to reserve a seat or require more information please email susanfallmann@hotmail.com or telephone 01732 454820.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
PCSO Dave Birchall is holding a Police Surgery this morning between 11am and 12.30pm in the School House. Please go along if you have any policing problems you would like to discuss.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and Sevenoaks Book Fair is being held between 9am and 2.30pm in the Memorial Hall on Saturday June 14 admission free. Thousands of second hand books for the collector and avid reader will be on sale and further details are available from Stephen Marshall 01892 618191.