Otford Society bi-annual meeting
The Otford Society’s bi-annual meeting is on Thursday October 31st at the Otford Village Memorial Hall. The evening will start with a wine reception at 7pm.
Join us to hear the latest updates and our future plans. Additionally, there will be a unique presentation by Rod Shelton titled “Well I Never Knew THAT!” a light-hearted and surprising exploration of the villages of the Darent.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The Otford Heritage Trail
Have you seen the wonderful new Otford Heritage Trail sign next to the red phone box near the pond? The Heritage Trail is a series of ten illustrated information boards located throughout the village.
Each board tells the story of the near-by period homes.
There are two pamphlet dispensers attached to the sign. One contains a small booklet of ten circular walks around Otford and the other contains a pamphlet with a map of the Heritage Trail.
The sign, commissioned by the Amenities and Services Committee of the Parish Council, was illustrated by Rod Shelton and designed by Phil Clucas. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Otford Parish Council and the Otford Society & Fete Committee.
On Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August, 40 circular walk booklets and 20 Heritage Trail pamphlets were taken by visitors which just shows how popular Otford is with walkers!
Books Needed!
Do you have any books you’ve finished with? If so, Friends of Otford Station would love to take them off your hands to sell in their charity book stall. Donating is really easy. All you need to do is pop into the station and add your books to the shelves in the waiting area near the ticket office, and that’s it!
The Otford Society Annual Summer Garden Party
We are delighted to be holding our annual Garden Party from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on July 13th, in the beautifu
l garden of Castle House. This is one of the highlights of our summer calendar, and we are immensely grateful to the owners for making their garden available to us. It’s sure to be another hugely successful occasion.
Tickets cost £25 general admission or £20 for Otford Society Members with a current paid-up membership (using the promo code sent via email) and include a welcome drink and canapes throughout the evening. There will also be a raffle and a pay bar. Cash and cards will both be accepted.
Only Members of the Otford Society with a current paid-up membership are entitled to the £5 discount. The discount does not extend to a booking which includes non-members. If you are a member and wish to bring non-members to the garden party, please book their tickets separately.
Would you like to take advantage of the special member discount for the Garden Party? If you join now you will be sent a promo code which will give you £5 off the cost of your ticket. Annual membership is just £5.00 (if you set up a standing order) or £7.50 (by bank transfer or cheque). Please note a membership fee is per adult aged 18 years or older and not per household.
Setting up a Standing Order is easy via your bank or building society using the following details:
Name: The Otford Society
Sort Code: 30-98-97
Account Number: 83442563
Reference: Your name
Alternatively, you can find all the details on how to become a member here on our website.
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
Please also note that this event is for Otford residents only.
The Chalk Pit – UPDATE
The Otford Society caught up with Cllr Irene Roy following the Press Release about the Chalk Pit closure. Cllr Roy explained that she had arranged a site meeting at the chalk Pit with SDC Officers and Scout Group Leaders to provide an opportunity for Officers to set out the plan of action to ensure the safety of the Scout Land and answer questions. We were pleased to hear that ground penetration surveys of the scout land will take place next week to ensure there are no safety risks to the area given the proximity of this land and the safety issues identified by the surveys of the Chalk Pit. Cllr Roy has also re-iterated that the District Council has no plans to dispose of the chalk pit for development which is excellent news for the community. Whilst the broader site will remain closed pending more detailed surveys, we understand that Sevenoaks District Council remain committed to restoring this Open Space for the benefit of the community and SDC understand the urgency required given the site’s importance to the community.
THE CHALK PIT – A STATEMENT FROM THE OTFORD SOCIETY
The Otford Society is aware that Sevenoaks District Council has issued a press release announcing that the Chalk Pit between Tudor Drive and Station Road will be closed to the public. Full access to the Chalk Pit has already been restricted for an extended period and whilst it is important that the area is safe for those using it, the Otford Society share the deep concern of members of the local community at the prospect of such a cherished space within the village being lost.
This important designated Open Space has been used by generations of Otford residents, dog walkers and children, including Otford Scouts. It represents a vital piece of amenity land for the local community and the Society strongly encourages Sevenoaks District Council to work with some urgency on a clear plan to enable the Chalk Pit to be safely re-opened to the public.
Annual General Meeting – Tuesday 30th April
The Otford Society AGM will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 30th April in the Players Hall at the Otford Village Memorial Hall. The meeting will include refreshments and an exciting talk by Kevin Froming of Otford & District Archaeological Group entitled “A Villa Full of Secrets” about the Roman Villa Excavations in Church Field.
Come and have your say about the issues that concern you and hear our plans for the year ahead!
Exceptional Public Meeting – Wednesday 14th February
The Otford Society is refreshing the manner in which it operates. No big changes but more a tidying up on what we do and how we do it. As we have grown over recent years, it has become apparent that our current Constitution may not fully capture the essence of our present focus and activities. In light of this, we hope you will agree that these updates to the Constitution better reflect our values and goals.
Please take the time to review the revised Constitution and forward any comments or suggestions to chairman@otfordsociety.org.uk by 10th February 2024. This will allow us to address your input and make any necessary revisions ahead of the scheduled meeting.
We really value your commitment to The Otford Society. Your contributions to this constitutional update process are important to us. If you are unable to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, you can consider appointing a proxy to represent your views. Just let the Secretary know by email at secretary@otfordsociety.org.uk.