NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
The Darent Valley Choir
Our Christmas Concert this year is to be held at St Mary's Church, Swanley on Saturday 5th December at 7.30pm. Our Musical Director Ben Odom has chosen the very special Vivaldi's Gloria as the main item. There will be carols, some well known and one or two not so. We hope you will be able to join us and tickets are available from 01959 523279 or from Sevenoaks Bookshop.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Christmas Shopping Festival is on Sunday between 11am and 4pm when you can enjoy the wonderful shops in the village and choose an extra special gift for everyone. Entertainment will be provided throughout the day including Bobbo the Clown, a Fire Juggler, Father Christmas, the School Choir, Morris Dancers and Victorian Characters. Mince Pies will be available and the raffle draw will take place in the Antiques Centre at 2pm. Otford Methodist Church welcomes everyone to their Hall's between 11am and 4pm for Tea, Coffee and Mince Pies during the festival.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford & District Wine Club are selling tickets for their Christmas Dinner and Social on Saturday December 12 for £24. The evening will begin with a glass of sherry; a full Christmas Dinner with five choices of each course, a raffle and dancing. To book ring the Secretary 01732 761359.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Primary School’s Christmas Bazaar is on Saturday December 5 in the school hall between 12.00 - 3.00pm. Listen to the Carol singing, enjoy a cup of tea, visit Santa’s Grotto and buy from the many stalls of crafts and gifts.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners Society say there is still time to book a table at their quiz night on December 1. So far they have seven teams booked but there's plenty of room for more to go and join them in what they hope will be a good opportunity for a social evening as well as the real business of quizing. This event is in the Memorial Hall, doors open at 7pm and the quiz at 7.30pm. Nibbles will be provided but take along your own drinks. Cost £3 per person with a maximum of six people to a table. To reserve a table telephone 01959 523760/524183 or e-mail gardeners@otford.net.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI enjoyed a good attendance at their meeting on November 12 with Eve Wiltshire, their new President, in the chair and Diana Jeremiah and Barbara Roberts were congratulated on being the winners at a recent federation whist day. The speaker, a retired Flood Development Officer, spoke about the river Darenth and he surprised members when he said this was a man-made river, starting at Westerham. Over 25 mills were on the river during the 18th and 19th centuries, some were silk mills, some paper and one flannel. Members were particularly interested when he came to the Otford stretch of the river and its associated streams - the Bubblestone and the Honeypot - and one member, who lives in the village near the river, brought photographs of the old mill as it used to be and as it was after the fire which demolished it in the early 1930s. Pat Goddard won the raffle of a lovely flower arrangement and Christmas cards, by the Otford Society, sold literally like hot cakes.

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

Why not buy some driving lessons for a Christmas present!

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
There will be a Traidcraft coffee morning in Otford Methodist Church Hall tomorrow, Friday, from 10am to noon. Christmas goods, cakes and puddings will be available, there is no admission charge.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's church Christmas Market is on Saturday in the church centre between 10am and 12 noon. Father Christmas will be visiting the children giving them an opportunity to pick a present from the tree and he may enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a Christmas biscuit, stolen or a mince pie. There will be huge number of stalls offering everything you could want to dress your table and tree alongside winter woollies, sweets, chocolates and a Christmas raffle. If you have any queries ring Sylvia Grafton 01732 452117.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Indoor Boot Fair on Saturday in the Memorial Hall starts at 9am. Entrance 50p, refreshments available to purchase.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Join Otford & District Wine Club on Wednesday when they will be tasting Latin American Wine while enjoying some seasonal entertainment in the Memorial Hall at 8pm., members admitted free and guests charged £5. Tickets for their Christmas Dinner and Social on Saturday December 12 are still available for £24 by ringing the Secretary on 01732 761359. The evening will begin with a glass of sherry; a full Christmas Dinner with five choices of each course, a raffle and dancing.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Primary School is holding its Christmas Bazaar on Saturday December 5 in the school hall between 12.00 - 3.00 pm and you are invited to go along to join the fun. Listen to the Carol singing, enjoy a cup of tea, visit Santa’s Grotto and buy from the many stalls of crafts and gifts.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Put your thinking caps on and join Otford Gardeners Society at their Quiz and Fun Night on Tuesday December 1 in the Memorial Hall. This social evening starts at 7.30pm and rounds off the years programme. Doors open at 7pm and the quiz starts at 7.30pm. There will be a warm up quiz to get the evening going followed by an eight round general knowledge quiz with a picture running round and prizes for the winners. Nibbles will be provided but take along your own drinks. Cost £3 per person with a maximum of six people to a table. If you would like to reserve a table telephone (01959) 523760 / 524183 or e-mail gardeners@otford.net.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Folk Dance Club meet on Thursday November 26 in the Church Hall, High Street, with David Jex calling to recorded music. The club meets every Thursday from 8pm to 10 pm and all are welcome for a friendly evening of all kinds of folk dancing. There is a caller for each evening who runs through each dance beforehand and calls as the dance progresses The emphasis is on enjoying the dance rather than technical perfection. The cost for the evening, including tea/coffee and biscuits, is £1.50. For more information contact Peter George 01959 522105.

PARISH COUNCIL - NOV NEWSLETTER
The November edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: Otford Christmas Shopping Festival, Tree of Light, Parish Council, Helplines Directory, St Bartholomew’s Christmas Market, Indoor Boot Fair, Guide Christmas Post, Otford Village Fete Committee, Otford Parish Plan, Otford Village Hall - Treasurer, Otford Primary School Christmas Bazaar, Otford & District Wine Club, Police Surgery, Otford Community Warden, Twinning - Neufchatel-Hardelot, Otford Front Garden Competition, Otford & District Historical Society, Otford Oast WI, Otford Afternoon WI, Otford Methodist Wednesday Afternoons Women’s Fellowship, St Bartholomew’s Church, Sevenoaks DFAS, Otford Methodist Church, Knole DFAS, Sackville Singers Concert, Sevenoaks Embroiderers’ Guild, Picture of the Month, Otford Primary Top Draw, Citizens Advice Bureau Surgery 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
Otford Memorial Hall needs a new Treasurer as Keith Stockman, Treasurer for the past 3 years, can no longer spare the time. The Hall provides a tremendous facility for the community with over 1700 bookings each year and the Trustees would like to thank Keith for the super job he has done including computerising the accounts.

Hall Treasurer isn’t a particularly onerous task and would suit someone with a basic knowledge of accounting or book-keeping, a little time and a dash of public spiritedness. The Treasurer attends four quarterly Trustees meetings each year but these only last for about 1½ hours and, sometimes, can even be interesting.

If you can help, or know someone who can, ring Ron Dullage, Secretary to the Trustees, 01959 525181, 07887 780576 or e-mail ovmh.manager@otford.net.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Hospice in the Weald, Sevenoaks Link, are holding their Christmas Bazaar between 10am and 2.30pm in the Memorial Hall on Saturday November 14. Buy your presents from over 20 stalls whilst enjoying a coffee and light refreshments.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Fireworks Extravaganza, organised by the Scout Group, is on Saturday (14) and tickets, adults £4 children under 5 free, can be purchased from Otford Dry Cleaners and The Crown PH, High Street. Entrance is via the Scout Hut, Station Road. Hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks will be on sale during the evening and gates open at 5.30pm for a 6pm performance.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bartholomew's church Christmas Market is being held in the church centre between 10am and 12 noon on Saturday November 21. Stalls will include gift wrapping, cards, tree and table decorations, candles, cakes, winter woollies, sweets and chocolates. Buy tickets for the Christmas raffle and children can pick a present from the tree. Coffee, tea and soft drinks together with Christmas biscuits, stolen and mince pies will be on sale. All contributions gratefully received at the church office, at any church service or at Burway, Sevenoaks Road and 34 Dartford Road, Sevenoaks. If you have any queries ring Sylvia Grafton 01732 452117.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tables for the Indoor Boot Fair being held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday November 21 between 9am and 1pm are still available costing £8 by ringing 01959 525582 or 01959 522236, evenings only. Entrance 50p, refreshments available to purchase.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tony Grogan has returned safely from Romania having completed Macmillan Cancer Support’s hiking challenge. He would like to thank all those who helped him raise in excess of £3,000 of the combined total of all the trekkers of over £150,000. The trek was a real challenge but worth all the effort of training and fund raising.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford and District Historical Society meet at 8pm in the Memorial Hall on Wednesday November 18 for a lecture by Anne Carter on Rochester Cathedral. Annual membership subscription £5, visitors welcome for £1.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford & District Wine Club is holding a Latin American Wine Tasting in the Memorial Hall at 8pm on Wednesday November 25. There will be wine to taste together and entertainment with members admitted free and guests charged £5. Tickets for their Christmas Dinner and Social on Saturday December 12 are selling like hot mince pies so ring the Secretary on 01732 761359 if you would like to go. The evening will begin with a welcome glass of sherry; a full Christmas Dinner with five choices of each course, a raffle and dancing for £24.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Otford Table Tennis Club
We are a friendly club playing socially with a Monday 'Club Night' from 19:30 at Otford Village Memorial Hall and with teams in the Sevenoaks Table Tennis League and Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Table Tennis League for competitive play.

Have a look at our new webpages www.otford.info/tabletennis. You may not recognise us in the Video clips, but we aspire to it!
Contact our Club Secretary, Tony York for more information.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Parish Council - Otford Helplines Directory - Edition 'V' 2009
It is now nine years since the fourth edition of the Helplines Directory was issued and with the large number of changes in the village it seems to be an appropriate time to issue an updated fifth edition, although life changes at such a pace that by the time you receive your copy there will no doubt have been alterations.

The updating of the directory has been the work of the Councils Services Committee.

The Council trusts that it will be of help to all residents (about 1500 households) of the Parish particularly newcomers and that you will be able to find a place for this reference booklet beside your telephone directory.

Great care has been taken in the preparation of this directory and you will appreciate that the Council cannot accept any responsibility for any error or omission or, of course, for any loss which may result from the use of any of the services listed. This directory is intended as information not as recommendation, though entries have been subjected to a ‘willing service qualification’. If any mistakes are noted please advise the Parish Clerk at the Council office in the High Street.

The Parish Office - open 8.30am - 12.30pm for callers Monday to Friday will always endeavour to offer further information if required.
J.G. Allen Chairman Otford Parish Council

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Remembrance Sunday is being celebrated this week, November 8, and the two minute silence will be commemorated at 11am at the war memorial adjacent to the village pond. The centre of the village will be closed between 10.45 and 11.15am for the laying of wreaths and it is hoped that all sporting clubs using the recreation ground will delay the start of matches so as to avoid disturbing the silence.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Aladdin is being performed tonight (5), tomorrow and Saturday with an additional matinee performance at 2pm. Tickets are nearly sold out but if you would like to see the show ring 01959 525404 to see if there have been any cancellations.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Tickets for the Scouts Annual Fireworks Extravaganza on Saturday November 14 are selling like hot cakes from Otford Dry Cleaners and The Crown PH, High Street. Adults £4.00, children under 5 entrance free. Hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks will be on sale during the evening and gates open at 5.30pm for a 6pm performance. Entrance is via the Scout Hut, Station Road.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Rockdales fund raising events continue with a Bridge Lunch on Monday November 9 at Rockdale between 10.30am and 3.30 pm. Telephone Lynn Tier Tickets 01732 458762 or 468650 for details or email lynn.tier@rockdale.org.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Indoor Boot Fair is being held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday November 21 between 9am and 1pm. To book a table, costing £8, ring 01959 525582 or 01959 522236, evenings only. Entrance to this event costs 50p and refreshments will be available to purchase.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
The Crown on the pond has released a newsletter featuring their plans for the festive season. Call in to get your copy, phone 01959 522847 or email thecrown@otford.net.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
HopeFest continues with Ladies’ Chistmas Pudding Making on November 12 at St Nick’s Undercroft, Sevenoaks. This event starts at 8pm, costs £6, including ingredients and full tuition, and provides an opportunity to prepare a home made pudding for your family and hear about the real meaning of Christmas. To reserve a place email: pudding@hopefest.org.uk.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford WI monthly programmes continue with the Evening WI welcoming Trevor Carman, a flood development officer, to talk about ‘Old Mills on our Stream’ on November 12. Join them at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall.

The Afternoon WI meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the Memorial Hall. On November 10 they hold their annual general meeting and details of their programme is available from Joyce Shaw 01959 522736.

Otford Oast WI meets on the third Thursday each month at 9.30am in the Memorial Hall with a crèche for younger children and on November 19 Murray Letham will tell members about Internet Security and how to keep their families safe on the internet. Contact secretary Jane Dean 01732 460512 for details.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
OVMH - Can YOU help?
Otford Village Memorial Hall needs a new Treasurer! Keith Stockman, who has been our Treasurer for about three years now, is finding that his new business venture is making it impossible for him to continue to look after the Village Hall’s finances as well. Keith has done a super job, not least in computerising all of our accounts, but we now need someone to take over.

This really isn’t a particularly onerous task and would suit someone with a basic knowledge of accounting or book-keeping, a little time and a dash of public spiritedness.

The Hall provides a tremendous facility for the community with over 1700 bookings each year. We do ask that the Treasurer attends the four quarterly Trustees meetings each year but these only last for about 1½ hours (and, sometimes, can even be interesting!).

Please ring me, Ron Dullage, Secretary to the Trustees, initially and we’ll progress things from there. You can contact me on either 01959 525181, 07887 780576 or e-mail me on ovmh.manager@otford.net.