Sennadog,
Southend is a controlled airfielod, but as long as you do as ATC tell you, there will be no problem. They are well used to all sorts of training aircraft.
I would suggest that you try and come up to Cliffe on the north Kent coast, to the west of the VRP St Mary's Marsh. It get s you away from Rochester and is a very good landmark. The runway at southend is 24/06 and with the weather we have at the moment, I would expect to be using 24, so you will have come in from the north. All circuits are to the north west side of the runway. If you make your first call at Cliffe they will either give you 'downwind for right base' or 'left base' joins.
If you get 'downwind for right base', steer about 050-060 towards the airfield, but look out to the left, just off the nose for two large grey/ white gasometers. These are the local turning point for turnwind, so you can fly over them onto downwind. Next, look for two small square lakes, and turn base over them, as they are two miles from the threshold.
I'm sure you can manage the next bit onto the tarmac, it can get a bit bumpy over the trees though. Its a long runway & you will be able to stop before the intersection where you turn left & taxi to the apron, in front of the tower.
If you get a left base join from Cliffe, you head for the sea end of the Pier. Call 'crossing the pier' and if you look along the line of the pier, it points at the airfield. After you cross the coast, turn north and look for a river in front. The is a well defined inlet on the opposite bank which is convieniently 2 miles from the airfield. If you fly over the inlet, you can call 'Base leg - 2 miles'.
Try to avoid southend in the mid/late afternoon, as the sun is straight down the runway. Tuning the VOR to 111.35 helps.
I hope this is of some assistance, enjoy the flight and I hope the weather stays good for you (and all of us!) One day, I really must come down to Redhill.