James Penn-Dunnett is the owner of Dynnocht Computer Services and the Secretary of
the Glasgow Branch of The British Computer Society. He
is a computer scientist and software architect, who has spent more than 20 years in information systems
engineering trying to keep pace with a rapidly changing industry.
He has a BA Hons (2.1) in Mathematics and Computer Science and an MSc in Applied Computing
from the Open University. At postgraduate level he studied the modelling of complex
systems using discrete mathematics, knowledge engineering and artificial
intelligence. His higher degree project and dissertation researched the practical
use of Z formal notation in the development of M Technology (MUMPS) based
clinical laboratory information management systems. He is a Chartered
Mathematician and corporate member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and The British Computer
Society. His professional interests are discrete mathematics and Z notation, safety
critical systems, medical informatics and the MUMPS programming language.
In 2001 James founded Dynnocht Computer Services, an information systems
engineering company that focuses on cost-effective and extensible business
solutions using Free/OpenSource software.
In 1989 after further academic studies and freelance computer programming he
joined the Pathology Computing Service of NHS in Scotland as a systems designer and
analyst programmer in Radiology and Laboratory Medicine Computing covering acute
hospitals in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. After five years of successfully
developing EDI interfaces for on-line clinical laboratory analysers in a number
of major NHS hospitals he moved to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford as a Senior
Analyst Programmer in the Clinical Laboratory Service with responsibility for
software support and development. During his 3 years in pathology computing at the
John Radcliffe he was a member of the national award winning team for the Deloitte
Touch Best Information Management Project of 1998. Later that year he returned to
the Scottish NHS as IT Manager in charge of Unix Systems and outsourced IT Operations
for Lothian Health Board.
From 1969 to 1982 James was a director of Dunnett Electrical Company, a family
owned business of electrical engineers and contractors where he had responsibility
for specialist electrical installation work in the commercial and public sectors.
He was a licensed NICEIC electrical inspector and an active member of the Electrical
Contractors Association of Scotland (Now called SELECT) and a member of the SJIB.
Other Things: In the 1970 General Election he was the Election Agent for Robert Oliver Campbell,
Scottish National Party candidate in West Dunbartonshire and in the 1970 District
Council elections James stood for the SNP in West Dunbartonshire. In the late seventies he was
a member of East Dunbartonshire SNP Constituency Association and was a Sub-election Agent for the
late Margaret Ewing(Bain) MP (SNP). During the 1970's he was also a delegate to the SNP National
Council and member of the SNP National Assembly.
James was taught to play the great highland bagpipe by Archie Alexander and
James MacAuley. He learned on the practice chanter handed down from his great uncle,
Pipe Major James MacKay, 2nd Bn Seaforth Highlanders (1919-1923). He was in the St Rollox Pipe
Band and was honorary piper to 653 Sqn Army Air Corps when they were in Yemen in the
sixties.
In February 2011 he became a member of the committee of Caithness Family History Society and was
appointed as their Web Adminstrator for 2011.
Publications: He is co-author of 'The 1851 Census Index for the Parish of Ardersier, Invernessshire'
published by Highland Family History Society (2006).
When not working he can be found digging up the odd ancestor or two in
Caithness.
