OTFORD Oast WI. The next meeting will be held at 9.30am on Thursday February 20 in the Memorial Hall. A talk will be given by Caroline Alexander on The History of Ladybird Books. New members are welcome, the first meeting is free. For further information email otfordoastwi@mail.com. GIRL Guides and Girl Scouts around the world have celebrated World Thinking May on February 22 annually since 1926. It is a day to connect with their worldwide sisters and enjoy being part of an organisation with 10 million global members. Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Trefoil and Leaders from Kemsing and Otford District will be marking the day on Saturday February 22 with a local walk, finishing at Otford village green where the WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout) flag will be flying. If you were once a Rainbow, Brownie, Guide, Ranger or Leader you are invited to go along and join them at 11.5am on The Green when they will be renewing their Girlguiding promise. They would love to see you, or follow them on social media using the hashtags #WTD2020 #Our Hands. FAIR Feast 2019 is on Shrove Tuesday February 25 between 7.30 - 9.30pm. As many of you will know Fair Feast is held at Otford Methodist Church and consists of pancakes and other refreshments and a quiz, with prizes for those on the winning table. Admission is by ticket (£7, students £3.50). All ticket receipts and any donations are given through All We Can, the Methodist relief fund, to support work in an area of great need. This year, All We Can suggest that the money raised by Fair Feast 2020 will be used to support communities in Ethiopia which have been affected by their rapidly changing climate making it increasingly difficult to grow crops and earn a living. All We Can are supporting vulnerable families in those communities with crops that are better adapted to the climate, as well as arranging, as necessary, training in farming and business management. Tickets are £7 or £3.50 for students, and they may be bought now, although payment need not be made until the night. Tables seat 8 people but everyone is welcome and reservations may be made for any number from one upwards. To reserve places contact Glan Cable 01732 457842 glen-chris.cable@sky.com. OTFORD Heritage Centre is open between 2.30 and 4.30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons offering visitors to our village the opportunity to see Otford’s continuous habitation over 4,000 years with changing displays of recent history, village life, natural history and models of Otford Palace, and the interior of an Oast House as well as many others. It is free to enter, although donations are gratefully received. If you are interested in becoming a steward then extra help is always welcome. OTFORD Evening WI meet at 7.30pm on February 13 in the Club Room of the Memorial Hall to hear Brian Nobbs talk about gardening for wildlife. Visitors are very welcome to join them and if you need more information please contact their President 01959 524831. A reminder that Otford Parish Council meet monthly in the Memorial Hall on the second Monday of each month and at every meeting there is a ten minute public forum during which you are able to raise any matter of concern. Their next meeting is on Monday February 10. This is your Parish and your Council and they want you to be involved. To contact the Parish Council ring 01959 524808 or visit their website http://www.otford.info/parish/council/. OTFORD Traffic Plans public consultation was extended by two weeks finishing on Sunday January 26. The consultation was an opportunity for you to view the detail on the traffic measures and comment before the final plans are drawn up and finalised. The consultation period was extended as a result of some villagers being unaware of this project although it has been extensively advertised both in this column, on the web, and in the Parish Council monthly Newsletter. Notices have also been posted through letter boxes throughout the village in an attempt to keep everyone up-to-date on the Parish Councils future traffic plans. The Parish Council office is open 8.30 to 12.00 noon Monday to Friday and can be contacted at 21 High Street, 01959 524808, clerk@otfordpc.co.uk. To view the full set of results and graphs for each road and traffic measure visit Otford Parish Council Website at: www.otfordpc.kentparishes.gov.uk and select 'Traffic Management' or contact the Parish Office for a paper copy. TONBRIDGE & Malling Ramblers offer a short walk around Knole Park on Wednesday March 15 starting at 11a.m. Meet and park in the main Knole NT car park, £5 for non-members car share if possible (TN15 0RP, TQ538543). Good paths and tracks. Followed by lunch or coffee in the National Trust cafe. Toilets near the start. Dogs on short leads. This is a circular walk with an estimated finish time of 12:30. Contact: June, 01732 220477 07850 562527. DIARY DATE: The original play written to form part of the celebrations of the visit of Henry VIII to Otford 500 years ago is complete and now we are looking for actors, entertainers and technicians to bring it to life. It's a lighthearted, irreverent look at what might really have happened. Read throughs of the play will take place at St Bartholomew's Church Hall in the High Street at 7.30pm on Friday February 7 and Thursday February 13. Please go long if you would like to be involved in any capacity. DIARY DATE: The original play written to form part of the celebrations of the visit of Henry VIII to Otford 500 years ago is complete and now we are looking for actors, entertainers and technicians to bring it to life. It's a lighthearted, irreverent look at what might really have happened. Read throughs of the play will take place at St Bartholomew's Church Hall in the High Street at 7.30pm on Friday February 7 and Thursday February 13. Please go long if you would like to be involved in any capacity.
