The Otford Elves join all of us at the Otford Society in wishing our village a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas. The elves will be appearing in a shop window near you for a few more days, so there's still time for primary aged children to memorise a joke and claim their prize.
They have gone ‘CRACKERS’ and can’t wait to tell you their awful Christmas jokes. As part of our Christmas Elf Trail, shop windows throughout the village are displaying posters with Christmas jokes on them. Children from 3 to 103 are invited to look in the window and find the hidden elf holding the joke’s punchline. Those of primary school age can claim a prize by retelling any one of the trail's 25 jokes to a shopkeeper displaying a 'Free Prize' poster in their doorway. The event runs from Wednesday 1st December until Christmas Eve... when all Elves have to be back at base with Santa! Like last year’s successful Snow Dome Trail, we hope this will encourage families to support Otford's valued retailers during this time of economic uncertainty.
Christmas is just around the corner and this year, with generous financial support from Otford Parish Council, we’ve been putting up warm Christmas lights on shops and businesses throughout the village: along the High Street, the Parade and up at Yvonne’s Shop. In line with our commitment to #greenchristmasotford, we have chosen LED lights that won’t be using up much money or electricity. We are staying as green as we can, and the warm tones of Yuletide will be there to cheer us all through the darkest months of winter.
With COP26 fresh in all our minds, the Otford Society wants to encourage you to make this year your most eco-friendly and sustainable Christmas yet. So look around our village and see where we have made changes to help, such as planting trees or installing environmentally friendly bins. You might even include an elf! Be creative and show us where our village could do more to help Planet Earth for our grandchildren. Nothing is off limits – just make sure it’s visually appealing. To submit your photo, upload it to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #greenchristmasotford. In doing so you consent to entering our competition. If you should be chosen as one of the winners we reserve the right to display your photo on our website and social media. The closing date for the competition will be Sunday 28 February.
Happy smiles from members of Otford Allotments Association, one of many village clubs and societies we’re proud to have Under our Umbrella. It's fast becoming the hub that people visit to find out what’s going on in Otford. Recent additions to our online directory from organisations seeking new members include the Otford Art Club, Shoreham and Otford Cricket Club, Otford Lawn Tennis Club, Otford Lunch Club and the Zoom into History Group. We’re keen to promote everything that’s happening in our village, including listing forthcoming meetings and events in our online calendar. Let’s be hearing from you! Email editor@otfordsociety.org.uk
Hurrah! It's almost half term! Hurry down to Oxenhill Shaw & Meadow for one last visit to the treasure chest before the pirates hide it away for the winter. Take along a small treasure of your own to leave in the chest, and choose something to take away with you. Not sure where the treasure chest is? Check out our map here. But be quick - the chest will be hidden away from Monday 4th November until Spring. And don't forget about the 'Little Rabbit' story if you're looking for somewhere free to go with children aged 3-7 years this half term. Make it a family expedition by downloading the story and heading off to Oxenhill Shaw & Meadow at the end of Tudor Drive. Then just see where it takes you....
ln response to growing concern about rising rates of Covid 19 locally, we have reluctantly decided to postpone our much anticipated Race Night until 1 April 2022. Put the date in your diary, and do keep an eye on our website and social media for more information nearer the time. If you have never been to Ascot and always wondered what all the fuss was about, then try Otford Races first! Entry to the event will be £5.00 per person payable on the night. Doors will open at 6.45pm and the first race, one of eight, will take place at 7.15pm. There will be a cash bar and refreshments, so why not get a party together?
The Otford Society celebrated the conclusion of its first year back with the traditional garden party on September 19th. Nearly seventy village residents joined us in the lovely garden of Colet's Well, and despite an ominous weather forecast the evening was balmy and dry. The wine and the conversation flowed, and three Otford sixth-formers passed around some much appreciated canapés. Several people left carrying fine prizes won in the raffle. The words of appreciation have been pouring in ever since. Barbara Darby wrote, "What a wonderful garden party at Colet's Well. So lovely to meet up with neighbours and friends who we hadn’t seen for ages. The food just kept coming, it was beautiful and served by several young ladies who just hovered around with plates of delights. Thankyou to the Otford Society for organising it and of course to Sir Michael and Lady Bett for opening their beautiful garden for the occasion." Rhiannon Fender said "I just wanted to thank all of the Otford Society team for putting on such a wonderful garden party event on Sunday. It was lovely being able to meet people who live in Otford whilst enjoying a beautiful setting, gorgeous food and lovely wine. I look forward to attending many more!" And one guest spoke for everyone when she concluded, "It was so good to meet up in person again, to meet some new people and to enjoy some of life’s little pleasures."
Were you at the Otford Village Fete on August 30th? Or the St Bart's summer fair on September 4th? Did you take some great pictures? If so you could be a winner in our Summer Photo Competition. The theme this time is Fetes and Fairs in Otford and the competition closes at the end of September. Full details and an entry form are on our website at www.otfordsociety.org.uk/projects#photography. For the overall winner, chosen by popular vote, there's a £25 gift voucher to be won.
Although sales of tickets to our Garden Party on Sunday September 19th have been brisk, there are still some available. You can read all about the event and buy them online here.