Current Hobbies

British Junior Chamber

I belong to the St. Albans British Junior Chamber. BJC is an independent, world-wide individual development organisation for people from all walks of life, between the ages of 18 and 40, who wish to become successful in their personal and private lives. Skills are developed by taking part in community, training, networking and social events.

Internet

Still trying to find a real use for it. WWW is OK if there is something specific you're looking for. The same goes for newsgroups. Internet Relay Chat is normally full of rubbish channels with people saying not a lot. But I have found a few good channels to chat in. I have also run introductory training evenings about the internet and gadgets. My main Internet email address is - john.pannell@btinternet.com

Sailing

Mainly during the summer evenings to relax. I normally hangout in Rickmansworth teaching under-25's to sail, either in the dingy with them or bombing around in the rescue boat.

PTSC

See Ambitions.

Scouting

More of a part time hobby. I met many of my social friends via Scouting. Like it or not, I think Scouting is a great training ground for young men & women and builds great leaders. It has certainly done me a lot of good.

Genealogy

Trying to find out where I came from. I collecting names, dates, certificates and photographs. So far I have got back to around circa 1790 and have about 230 people on my list. I use an excellent program called "Reunion". I have not found any good genealogy WWW sites yet, but usenet is a good place to ask questions and learn tips. Yes I do go to local libraries and cemeteries. So if you know any one with a surname of Pannell, Nobbs, Bromley or Dyson, please let me know and I'll add it to my Family Tree.

Past Hobbies

Chiltern Radio

Chiltern is an UK Independent Local Radio station for the Herts, Beds & Bucks area and is one of the breeding grounds for Radio One and Capital Radio jocks. I worked for Chiltern for about 7 years first in the sports newsroom and then as an outside broadcast engineer. OB's were really fun - got to meet many people, see many things and have a great laugh. Most of all I enjoy connecting things together with cables. Check out this jargon - mixers, talk-back, carts, decks. Driving & setting up the OB units was the best bit.

Mobile Disco

I ran a mobile disco "Wired for Sound" with a friend for about ten years. Anything from house parties with 15 people, fund-raising events, wedding to the bigger gigs for 800 people. We went into retirement in 1986 when the work load got too high and we came close to going full time. We came out of retirement once in 1995 and really enjoyed it !!!

Hospital Radio

This was my training ground for Chiltern and Disco's. Great fun both in the studio and on outside broadcasts.

Work Hobbies

Things I do or read about at home which are work related, but not really my key objectives

Intranet

At work I like to ensure my internals customers have access to as much information as possible. I took the lead in my team to set up an intranet and promoted the use of NetScape & Internet Exporer to all internal people that ask me for information. This cuts down incoming phone calls and allows me to do some real work.

Lotus Notes

I enjoy using Lotus Notes to share information within my immediate work team - even better now that Domino is here. When browsers has features such as multi-user/multi-level security; easy management of relational databases, document/database two way replication - then I might change my mind. Both WWW and Notes have their places. Please challenge me if you think different. But first read about NetScape Communicator, Domino, and Microsoft Exchange.

Other

See ambitions.