Celia Imrie opens new Best Beginnings office

28 May 2010

Celebrities Celia Imrie, Charlie Webster and Leon Ockenden yesterday opened the new office of Best Beginnings.

Actress Celia, best known for her roles in Dinner Ladies, Bridget Jones’s Diary and the Victoria Wood Show, cut the ribbon to mark a new era for Best Beginnings.

Celia said: “At the beginning of life we’re all equal, we’re all born with no clothes on, we’re all born equal wherever we are. What I think is marvelous about this charity is that it makes sure that wherever you are in the country, whether you’re in Birmingham or Hampshire or Scotland or Cornwall, you’ll all have the best beginning.”

Celia also encouraged attendees at the launch to join the Best Beginnings London to Paris Bike Ride in September.

TV presenter and Best Beginnings Ambassador Charlie Webster and actor Leon Ockenden kicked off the day with a rugged training session outside the office. Charlie put Leon through his paces as he trains for the forthcoming 184-mile bike ride.

Charlie said how proud she was to be an Ambassador for Best Beginnings: “I came from a very rough background, and something I’m very passionate about is using health and fitness to get people out of those troubled backgrounds.”

As well as taking part in the bike ride, Charlie will also be competing in the Asics British 10K London run in July.

Alison Baum, CEO of Best Beginnings, said of the office opening: “It’s a chance to celebrate this moment in Best Beginnings’ history, when we can have more office space to enable us to do more work to help the most vulnerable babies in the UK.”

Also attending the opening were Theo Walcott’s parents Don and Lynn, Sir Erich Reich of Classic Tours, actor Scott Brooksbank, and Leon’s fiancée and actress Vanessa Hehir.

Attendees were treated to delicious cupcakes and milkshakes provided by West Hampstead’s own Bake-a-boo and Shaketastic. The cupcakes were decorated with “London to Paris” lettering and cycle icing.

Click here to see pictures from the launch, courtesy of photographer extraordinaire Frank Herholdt.