CIHT South Western Annual Conference and Black Tie Dinner

The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) held their South Western Annual Conference 2015 at Rougemont/Thistle Hotel.  In the evening, more than 170 guests attended the black-tie awards dinner, sponsored by EM Highways and in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).  A raffle raised £1600 for this worthy cause, chosen in memory of the late Peter Swain, a long-standing member of the CIHT South Western committee who held the charity close to his heart.

Photograph by Glen King - David Gibby (President of CIHT) / Viv Gibby / Peter Heron (EM Highways) / Sue Percy (CEO of CIHT) / Roger Evans (Parsons Brinckerhoff) CIHT South Western Branch Chairman

Local counselling practice moves to new premises

Exeter-based counsellor Rosemary Pell, formerly working at Walnut Gardens, has relocated to new consulting rooms at the salubrious Baring House located in Baring Crescent. 

Photograph by Richard Lappas
Rosemary Pell in the private garden at Baring House

Baring House, a Georgian property and listed building built in 1854, has been extensively renovated whilst retaining many original features.  Expanding the counselling practice to the new premises, offers clients a more central location with free parking and includes a waiting room manned by a professional receptionist.  

A fully qualified counsellor and registered member of the (BACP) British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Miss Pell has been running her counselling practice for 17 years helping over 8,000 clients with varying issues.

Rosemary Pell said: “I am delighted with the move to Baring House which is a beautiful and spacious property which is light and airy and very tastefully decorated. It enables me to offer my clients a completely private and discreet service in a peaceful setting.  Although the content and exploration of a client’s issues is the most important criteria of the counselling session, there is no doubt that a calm, tranquil and pleasant environment is a major contributory factor.  I feel very privileged when clients trust me with their problems and the change of premises has provided greater flexibility of client appointment days and times.”

Baring House also features a private and gated garden which means Miss Pell can now offer clients ‘walk and talk’ therapy.  The increasingly popular form of therapy offers counselling sessions whilst walking and talking outside as an alternative to the traditional therapy room setting.
Rosemary Pell comments: “Having access to the private garden adds real value to clients who prefer an outdoor space to explore any issues or problems that have been bothering them.  The fresh air and exercise in a natural environment, giving a sense of well-being which can help lift the spirits. It’s an alternative for clients who may feel uncomfortable sitting opposite a therapist  in a room setting or who find it easier to talk whilst walking and with less direct eye contact.”

www.rosemarypell.co.uk

Wealth management company raises funds to support Families at children’s hospice

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), with two City-Centre shops was delighted to receive funds of over £5700 presented by Wealth Management Company, Brewin Dolphin, Exeter office.  The money will go towards the general care budget and could fund the food bill at the Barnstaple hospice, Little Bridge House, for six weeks.

Photograph taken in Kitchen of Littlebridge House - Jon Crompton Divisional Director Brewin Dolphin Exeter Office / Naomi Dymond Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser for Little Bridge House, Children's Hospice South West / Rhiannon Cox - Administration Manager, Brewin Dolphin Exeter Office

Children’s Hospice South West helps and support children and their families who are living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions: every day is dedicated to making the most of every moment. Because life is unpredictable, the charity is there day and night, all year long - whenever they are needed.

Brewin Dolphin’s Exeter Office chose CHSW as their ‘Charity of the Year 2014’, and the funds were raised from a number of events and activities organised throughout the year.

Jon Crompton, Divisional Director - Brewin Dolphin Exeter said: “We were proud and delighted to support CHSW as our Charity of the Year for 2014.  It’s a very worthy and deserving cause and it has been a fun year of events for both the team and our associates who helped us to fundraise.  It is wonderful to think that the monies we have raised over 12 months could help to feed the families at Little Bridge House for six weeks and will make a real difference for the charity.”

Children’s Hospice South West has three hospices based in North Devon, Bristol and Cornwall offering tailor-made family-friendly facilities.  The charity is dedicated to making the most of short and precious lives, providing the best possible hospice care for life-limited children and their families in the South West.  CHSW delivers a range of services including short breaks, specialist play, music therapy, activities for siblings, palliative and emergency care, end of life care, and bereavement support.

Naomi Dymond, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser – CHSW says: “We were absolutely thrilled to be chosen by Brewin Dolphin’s Exeter office as their Charity of the Year and it has been fantastic to have their support.  Everyone got fully involved and we have thoroughly enjoyed following the team’s many fundraising activities throughout the year.  On behalf of all the children and families who receive our special care, we would like to thank everyone at Brewin Dolphin Exeter for an incredible year of fundraising.  We rely almost entirely on voluntary donations and without the commitment and generosity of businesses like Brewin Dolphin, we simply couldn’t continue to be there for the life-limited children and families who need us the most.”

Bristol chambers help fund nursing care for local children’s charity

St. John’s Chambers located in Victoria Street, handed over a cheque for £1500 to local charity, Jessie May.  The monies raised will pay for a months’ worth of respite support by a nurse for one of the charity’s families. 

Christopher Sharp QC, Head of Family Practice Group / Julian Withers, Head of Fundraising Jessie May / Gillian Alexander, Jessie May Nurse  / Elaine Jewell Moore, Family Practice Group Clerk – St. John’s Chambers

 
A premier set in the South West with over 80 members including seven Queens Counsel, chambers hosted a new Family Justice System Conference in Bristol with all profit donated to the Jessie May Children’s Hospice at Home Charity.

Christopher Sharp QC, Head of Family Practice Group, St John’s Chambers said: “The conference was very successful and we were delighted to raise monies for this worthy charity.  St John’s is proud to be able to assist the essential work that Jessie May are doing in the local community to support families during the hardest times.”

The monies raised by Chambers will be spent on respite visits for the charity’s families.  This is delivered with support by Nurses such as Gillian Alexander and will cover the expenses to support one of the charity’s families for a whole month.

Julian Withers, Head of Fundraising Jessie May said: “We are so grateful to St Johns Chambers for this wonderful donation of £1500. The pressures on families caring for terminally ill children are greater than ever and the number of children being cared for by Jessie May Nurses is at a record high which makes this donation all the more value to us. On behalf of our Nurses and our children and families we offer our sincerest thanks and the money will be put to the very best use.”

www.stjohnschambers.co.uk

Brewin Dolphin Garden Announced for RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015

Brewin Dolphin is delighted to announce, that for the fourth consecutive year, they will have a Show Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. For 2015 Brewin Dolphin will be working with designer Darren Hawkes for whom this will be his second Chelsea appearance. 

The Garden

The garden will draw on Brewin Dolphin’s heritage, but will also reflect their forward thinking approach to business and ability to evolve and adapt to changes in the financial and wider world.

The garden will be filled with mature English Elms and familiar hedgerow plants evoking a shared memory of the British Countryside and a cultural heritage.  This, coupled with the use of traditional materials, will reflect Brewin Dolphin’s unique place within the financial market as a long established and highly respected business working with clients over generations. 

With a heritage of over 250 years, Brewin doesn't rest on its successes but reaches out both to new markets and new clients with enthusiasm.  This forward thinking attitude is strongly represented in the layout of the garden with unconventional floating platforms as a means of navigating through the space, bringing a sense of exploration, playfulness and wonder to those who enter.

Tim Walker, Head of Brewin Dolphin in Exeter said; “We are thrilled to be working with Darren Hawkes to create another undoubtedly beautiful and interesting garden at the 2015 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Every year we are incredibly proud to showcase our garden to the public and our clients. We are expecting great things from Darren and are glad to be part of his progression.”

The Designer

Darren Hawkes is delighted to be designing the Brewin Dolphin garden this year.  Having received a RHS Silver-Gilt medal for his 2013 Show Garden for SeeAbility he got the Chelsea bug and has been developing this idea over the past two years.

He has worked in the industry for nearly twenty years, cutting his teeth as a landscape gardener before turning freelance designer.  Having worked in London for 10 years he moved to Cornwall and established Wheelbarrow, a high end design and landscaping business.  This grew quickly prompting a second business, Darren Hawkes Landscapes devoted to design only projects.

He is currently working on projects in Bristol, Cornwall, Devon and West London.

The contractor for the Brewin Dolphin Garden 2015 will be Bowles and Wyer, and the plants are being supplied by Kelways. 

www.brewin.co.uk