“The Hamstel Breakers Showcase” also marks the end of the Summer Break Dancing School for children aged 4 – 16 and presents a unique opportunity for friends and family to come along and support the hard work and achievements of talented young people in Southend, who have worked together to put on a very special show.

Imelda Callowhill, Children’s Centre Co-ordinator for NHS South East Essex Community Healthcare, said: “The response to the Summer Extravaganza has been both overwhelming and exciting, and has provided life-changing opportunities for local children and families.”

The Deputy Mayor of Southend, Councillor David Norman, will be attending the show, along with Sarah St. Pierre, Director for Children, Young People and Families, and Stephanie Farr, Service Manager for Child Health and Integrated Early Years, both from NHS South East Essex Community Healthcare.

For further information about local events at NHS Sure Start Centres contact: 01702 577012.

This is a fantastic experience for the young students and is a great way of increasing co-ordination and learning through play.

Everything from the uniform to the way the classes are structured is specifically aimed at this age group and is unlike any other martial arts type classes.

Parents love the Little Tiger Cub setup and the way it helps children develop as much as the children love coming along and having great fun while learning.

There is normally a waiting list for the class but call now as we have new classes opening in the area on a regular basis and we can get you on the list straight away.

To learn more visit the 5 Elements Martial Arts website

See their martial arts listing in the business directory.

The current South Essex Accountancy Firm of the Year was formed in July 1980 when two firms which could both trace their pedigrees back to the early 1900s merged – five-partner practice Rickard Porter and two-partner firm Hartley Keen.

Rickard Porter was based in the offices in Nelson Street, Southend, where Rickard Keen remains to this day, while Hartley Keen was located just across the road. The firm opened a new office in Basildon five years ago.

The firm marked the occasion with a celebratory meal, attended by the partners and their spouses on Friday, 30th July, while a celebratory event for the whole Rickard Keen team will take place in the autumn, with final details to be confirmed.

Rickard Keen has enjoyed a successful 30th year so far, wining the inaugural Accountancy Firm of the Year award from the South Essex branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and continuing the growth in its business, despite the difficult economic climate.

Rickard Keen has always enjoyed high staff retention rates and two partners remain from the pre-merger days – Noel Kelleway who was a partner at Rickard Porter and the current managing partner Bob Sadler, formerly of Hartley Keen.

Fellow partners Bill Gould, Keith Bell and Alan Worsdale also worked for Hartley Keen before becoming partners in the new firm. By contrast, the firm’s sixth partner, Kate Davies, was only born a year before the merger took place!

Bob Sadler said: “Reaching 30 years is an important milestone for us and a great tribute to everyone who has worked for the firm during that time, helping to make Rickard Keen the success it is today.

“Rickard Porter and Hartley Keen were both well-respected firms in the local area but it was felt that by combining our expertise, we could offer an even better service to clients.

“We continue that principle today, combining the expertise of the big-name national firms, with the local knowledge and competitive pricing of a smaller practice.”

For more information, contact Rickard Keen LLP on 01702 347771 or visit www.rickardkeen.co.uk.

NHS South East Essex advice is particularly aimed at young adults who are flying abroad for a summer break to warn them of the dangers of having unprotected sex.

Karen Payne, family Contraception & Sexual Health Services Service Manager for NHS South East Essex says: “Packing condoms is as essential as packing your sun tan lotion. Having sex without a condom can put you at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection as well as an unplanned pregnancy. If you are on the contraceptive pill, stomach upsets can reduce its effectiveness and they may not work, so those packed condoms could come in very handy.”

If any local residents have had unprotected sex and would like non-judgemental and trusted contraceptive, reproductive and sexual health services, they can visit the Kingsley-Ward Centre (KWC) at Warrior House in Southend or one of many clinics in south east Essex, for further details call: 01702 577110.

Essex youngsters who are nervous or embarrassed about the thought of attending a clinic to get sexual health and contraception advice, can now also access up to date and accurate information online – thanks to a new website developed by the KWC www.thekwc.nhs.uk.

Claire Cleverly and Daughter - Breastfeeding volunteer

NHS South East Essex takes it’s first step towards Baby Friendly status.

As part of World Breastfeeding Week (1-7 August), NHS South East Essex is reminding mums and mums-to-be that breastfeeding can  contribute to improving children’s nutrition, health and development. Breastfeeding also contributes to immune system development in babies and provides infants with protection from infectious illnesses.

Liesel Park, Assistant Director for Public Health at NHS South East Essex said:

“Breastfeeding can have so many benefits, it can help fight obesity and can combat future heart problems for the child and evidence suggests that mothers who breastfeed can speed up weight loss post pregnancy.”

Breastfeeding helps protect your baby against:

• ear infections
• gastro-intestinal infections
• chest infections
• urine infections
• childhood diabetes
• eczema
• obesity
• asthma

Breastfeeding helps protect mothers against:

• ovarian cancer
• breast cancer
• weak bones later in life.

NHS South East Essex is currently working towards obtaining UNICEF baby Friendly status for its commitment to improve care and support offered to breastfeeding mothers and newborn babies. The UNICEF Baby Friendly status is given to maternity units and community services which meet UNICEF’s standards.

The initiative works with health professionals to ensure parents are supported to make informed choices about how they feed their children and that they feel they possess the skills to breastfeed successfully.

Locally, there is already a free scheme called ‘Mum 2 Mum’ is available which enables volunteers to pass on their breastfeeding experience and offer support and guidance to new mothers.

Claire Cleverly from Rayleigh, a mum2mum volunteer said:

“I was referred to the mum2mum breastfeeding support group by my health visitor when my baby was a few days old and with trepidation went along to the weekly meeting on my own! The volunteers made me so welcome and filled me with confidence in my breastfeeding ability, offering me ongoing support and encouragement. They told me of the helpline number that I could ring at any time and I certainly made great use of that
along with the weekly meetings!  It was when my daughter was a year old I felt that I wanted to train as a supporter and be able to help other mums just like me! Upon completion of the programme I really feel that I now contribute greatly as a volunteer within my local community! Thank you mum2mum!”

Any mums who feel they need support with breastfeeding can ring the Mum2Mum breastfeeding support helpline on:
7801 097605 or 07814 486497.

There are social groups also offering support across South Essex run by the volunteers.

Anyone who may be interested can ring Pauline Hammond, Clinical Lead Children’s Services at NHS South East Essex for an informal chat on 07973 672524 or email her at: pauline.hammond@see-pct.nhs.uk

There will be Mega deals, Free give aways, Three Show cars from Vibeand prizes of Vibe products.

There will also be a raffle of a major Vibe product.

If you are looking for In Car Entertainment you won’t get a better deal this year and Vibe would be delighted to see you at Motormania, Austin House, Newland Street, Witham, Essex CM8 2BA.

Learn more about Vibe on their website: www.vibeaudio.co.uk

Mr. Ramakrishnan

SOUTHEND, ESSEX, 30 JULY 2010 – Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Venkat Ramakrishnan, who practices at BMI Southend Private Hospital, has been chosen as one of the UK’s top 10 breast reconstruction surgeons in a survey conducted by the Daily Mail.

The survey, which canvassed 50 leading breast cancer and reconstructive surgeons, asked just one simple question: ‘If your nearest and dearest were to be diagnosed with breast cancer to whom would you refer them?’ The surgeons named Mr Ramakrishnan as one of their top 10. In the Daily Mail article that announced the survey, fellow surgeons said the following of Mr Ramakrishnan: “He is technically excellent and has pushed the boundaries with the most challenging microsurgical techniques. Free flaps – pieces of tissue from, say, the tummy – are taken to recreate the breast. Microsurgeons have to be able to plumb veins with the tiniest stitches to ensure that transplanted tissue survives in its new home in the breast.”

Mr Ramakrishnan was deeply flattered by the accolade, and also explained the importance of his field. “Often our patients have been to hell and back, and our job is to do as much as we can as surgeons to help them restore some normality. In doing so, we always strive to deliver the care that we would want our loved ones to receive,” said Mr Ramakrishnan. “I am immensely humbled, not only by this recognition, but also by the trust placed in me by my peers.”

Executive Director of Southend Private Hospital Peter Harris added:

“Breast reconstruction is a very complex specialty, which not only requires great skill and experience, but also a great sense of compassion. We are very proud that Mr Ramakrishnan has received this distinction. It’s a fantastic honour and much deserved. He is a brilliant surgeon and highly respected by colleagues, staff and patients alike.”

Mr Ramakrishnan qualified in medicine in 1983 and undertook comprehensive plastic surgery training in Australia. He has been practicing reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery since 1987.

Visitors can combine a visit to this inspirational Essex garden with the opportunity to enjoy late-summer displays from specialist nurseries  including celebrated Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winners such as Rougham Hall Nurseries, Broadleigh Gardens and Hardy’s Cottage Garden    Plants. Exhibitors will be offering a fantastic range of plants and shrubs for sale, many of which are not commonly available in garden centres.

They will be on hand to offer expert advice and their innovative and creative displays will provide ideas on how to recreate planting schemes at home. As well as plants, there will be a selection of garden trade stands offering shoppers items including garden furniture, hanging baskets and garden sculpture.

• www.rhs.org.uk
• Admission: adults – £7.50, children – free
• Location: Westerns Approach, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8AT
• Google Map

Saturday 25th September, 10am-4pm: The church will be open to view the flowers, along with stalls and refreshments, all in the church grounds.

Sunday 26th September, 12pm-4pm: The church will be open to view the flowers, with tea and cakes being served. The day will finish with Festival Choral Evensong at 6.00 p.m.

For further details please contact Phil Simmance on 01992 813732.

There will be lots to do for all the family including a BBQ, bouncy castle, raffle, auction of promises and car displays

• Saturday – Race cars and motorcycle display in the car park – bar horse racing – bbq in garden, live music till late.
• Sunday – Family fun day with stalls & sideshows, tombola, coconut shy, krazy kitchen, bouncy castle, bbq, ice-creams and other attractions.

In the bar, there will be the Mad Hatter’s Snipping Good Time Party with music in the bar and the Auction of Promises – including concert tickets, golf for 4, fly fishing voucher, spa day, flight in a plane, plus many, many more.

12 till late both days – Extra parking in the field next to the pub.
For further information, call the pub on 01277 829933
A weekend for all the family to enjoy – and help the children at Little Haven’s at the same time!