VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Hospices of Hope in the High Street are presenting their Fashion show Summer Collection, sponsored by Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells shops, at 7.30pm on Saturday May 22 at Christchurch. Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UT. See the collection and then have the opportunity to buy. Tickets £3 available from Tonbridge shop 01732 771919, Tunbridge Wells shop 01892 532004 or email shops@hospicesofhope.co.uk

Hospices of Hope are delighted to announce they have a team from the Rock Choir singing on their behalf at the Village Fete on Monday May 31 and invite you to go along and rock.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A coffee morning, in support of Christian Aid, is being held at the Otford Methodist church between 10am and 2pm on Saturday May 15 selling cakes, plants, fancy goods and offering an opportunity to have your car washed. Light lunches will be served from 12 noon and everyone is welcome. If you would like more details contact Audrey Curnow 01732 885597

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Evening WI enjoyed the Institutes 51st birthday meal on April 8 and the music played by harpist Melanie Jones. It will be down to more serious business on May 13, their annual meeting, when a president and committee will be elected for the forthcoming year. However the evening will end on a light-hearted note with a quiz or two and other entertainment to ensure members go home smiling.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Angela Jordan would like to invite you to one of the first demonstrations of her new venture HotPot being held at Bramley Lodge, Pilgrims Way West.

As Spring is well and truly in the air Angela has put together a selection of scrumptious recipes which are ideally suitable for “entertaining” and which use wonderful fresh, seasonal ingredients.

On the day you arrive at 9.30am, when recipes and tasting notes are distributed, and demonstrations start at 9.45am. During the morning participants will enjoy a cup of freshly brewed coffee with a warm muffin and lots of sampling of dishes followed at 1pm by a three-course lunch including a wine tasting. Demonstrations are being held on Wednesday May 5, Tuesday May 11, Thursday May 20 and Monday May 24.

Contact Angela for prices and booking information 01959 523052, 07876 254613, or email angela.jordan@btinternet.com.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Gardeners’ Society welcome Dennis Worcester to their meeting in the Memorial Hall at 8pm on Tuesday May 4 to talk about ‘A Beginners Guide to Birds’. Dennis will help members identify the birds which inhabit their gardens. Admission 50p for members and £1 for non members to include refreshments.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Citizens Advice Bureau surgery is being held between 10am and 12 noon on Tuesday May 4 at the Parish Office, High Street. No appointment is necessary.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
David Fulton, former captain of Kent County Cricket and ex Otford Colt, cut the ribbon to formally open the new practice nets on the recreation ground on Saturday April 10 and then faced the might of the Otford Colts bowling. About 25 of the Clubs younger members took the opportunity to bowl at him and, despite professing to not picking up a bat since his retirement from first class cricket 4 years ago, David successfully kept his wicket intact in fine style. Earlier he had spoken of his fond memories of junior sport at Otford where he had played cricket, table tennis and tennis.

A cheese and wine reception in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall followed the ceremony and Ted Hewitt, their former umpire and groundsman, attended from Edinburgh as well as Doreen Levy who ran Otford Colts in the late 70s and early 80s when David Fulton was a member. Graham Lund from The Lords Taverners presented a cheque for £3,000 to the Club and other guests included Tony Rose, Sevenoaks District Cricket Development Officer, Jane Lawrie from Otford Parish Council as well as over 70 senior and junior members of the Club.

Steve Ballard, Otford Cricket Club chairman, briefly addressed the assembled club members and guests thanking those attending, the providers of grants (Ibstock, Lords' Taverners and the Village Fete Committee), those Club members who had loaned money to assist the net purchase, Otford Parish Council for their assistance both financial and practical in making the project happen, and especially Mark Stevens for his work in pushing the project to completion over the 5 years from start to finish. Club member Mike Harris took some excellent photos, standing in at short notice to take photographs in the absence of the press.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A flower arranging workshop, in aid of the Platt Memorial Hall new build fund, is being held at the hall between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Friday June 11 at a cost of £65. This fund raising event will comprise a full days tuition, demonstrations, all materials, two designs to take home, and lunch. Further details and an application form are available from Val Brooker 01732 780396.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A flower arranging workshop, in aid of the Platt Memorial Hall new build fund, is being held at the hall between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Friday June 11 at a cost of £65. This fund raising event will comprise a full days tuition, demonstrations, all materials, two designs to take home, and lunch. Further details and an application form are available from Val Brooker 01732 780396.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Otford Art Group
Exhibition and sale of original paintings, prints and cards. Saturday, 1st May, Otford Village Hall, Hope Room. 10.30am - 3pm

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Society’s AGM starts at 8pm tonight in the Memorial Hall when the speaker, Bill Lattimer, will ask the question 'How green is our village?' For further details contact Carol Griffiths email : carolgriffiths@waitrose.com or telephone 01959 523140. A Minutes Secretary is also being sought by the Society to help with fixing dates, sending out agendas, and preparing brief minutes for their 3 committee meetings per year, and by writing short notes on the AGM and Autumn meetings. If you have a little spare time and can do basic word-processing, they would be delighted to welcome you to the Committee and provide you with templates etc.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Otford Rainbows, Brownies and Guides are still collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers and Tesco vouchers for schools and clubs so please pop any you have into the collecting boxes located in the Parish Office. On their ‘wish list’ this year are craft supplies, cheerleading sessions and camping equipment.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
A new term of Hatha Yoga classes for beginners and all abilities starts on Tuesday April 20 in the Church Hall. Lessons are weekly in term time between 7.30 and 9.00pm and cost £8. For further details and to reserve a place contact Brenda Hambrook 01959 525969.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Rescued Animals in Need (RAIN) will be hosting another talk by local vet, Peter van Dongen, on his Trek to Kilimanjaro in the Memorial Hall on FridayApril 30 at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Tickets will be £5 per person payable at the door and include a light buffet and raffle. Seating is limited so please telephone Jan Riches 01732 455354 or June McCullen 01959 533364 to secure your place.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
Volunteers who can spare a few hours on a regular basis are being sought by Hospices of Hope Coffee and Gift shop in the High Street. Call in for an application form or ring the shop on 01959 524322 and speak to Sue or Gill.

Hospices of Hope in the High Street are holding a Literary Lunch at the The Brew House Hotel, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA at 12 noon on Thursday April 29 with Sandra Howard author of Glass Houses, Ursula’s Story and A Matter of Loyalty. Tickets available from Vanessa Davis on vanessa@hospiceofhope.co.uk or 07866 495628.

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
St Bart's church is launching a ‘Save our Tower’ appeal with a Teddy Aerial Runway between 2 and 4pm on Saturday April 24. Teddy’s will be launched from the Tower for £2.50 each or £1 for children and there will also be cream teas and games as the start of an appeal to raise the balance of £70,000 needed to restore the tower. For further information visit www.StBartholomews.co.uk, email: st.bartholomews@otford.net or contact the Church Office 01959 523185.

NEWS ITEM SUBMITTED
Kent Group of the British Iris Society
We are holding our Combined Show and Display on Saturday 22nd May at Otford Methodist Church Hall. Visitors will be welcome from 12 noon to 4 pm. Entrance is free and there will be plants for sale.
Web: www.kentiris.org.uk

VILLAGE REPORT - KAY DRAKE 522727
David Fulton, former captain of Kent County Cricket Club and ex Otford player, will be officially opening the new cricket nets on Otford Recreation Ground next Saturday at 1.00 pm. Otford Cricket Club will be hosting the official opening. All members of the village are welcome to go along to meet David.

OTFORD' SOCIETY
The March Newsletter is now online, with a look at Otford - The Next Decade, update on Parish Plan, How to make a Snowman on the Green, St George‛s Day and Shakespeare‛s Birthday Celebration Lunch, Sevenoaks District Older Persons Forum, Otford Village Fete, a tribute to Roger Fogden together with the latest news from many aspects of the Society in village life.

The Annual General Meeting of the Otford Society is on Thursday 15 April 2010 at Otford Village Memorial Hall at 8.00pm. Speaker - Bill Lattimer 'How Green is our Village‛.

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

PARISH COUNCIL - APRIL NEWSLETTER
The April edition of the newsletter is now on-line. Read all about: The Henry VIII Show, Easter holiday Mini Tennis courses, Community Warden Surgery, Otford Village Fete, Spring Walk – Oxenhill Meadow & Shaw, Otford Allotment Association, Otford & District Historical Society, The Otford Society, St George‛s Day Lunch, Otford Tennis Club Open Day, Yoga Class, Otford Gardeners‛ Society, Darent Valley Choir, Sevenoaks Embroiderers‛ Guild, In Touch Community Handypersons Services for the older, disabled and vulnerable households, Driving Miss Daisy, Want to have your say, Parish Plan News, Caring for the roads in the neighbourhood, Otford & District Wine Club, Otford Oast WI, Otford Afternoon WI,
Otford Evening WI, Otford Bridge Club, Girlguiding UK, Get Up and Running to beat depression, Hospices of Hope ‘Be a Whizz at the Otford Quiz‛, Picture of the Month, Community Safety Unit, FREE Family Fun Days, Knole DFAS, Sevenoaks DFAS, Otford Primary Top Draw, Citizens Advice Bureau Surgery, T'ai Chi Classes, Refuse Sacks 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.