Edward Louis Brown (Lou)

Members aren‘t always aware of the activities going on behind the scenes at SeniorNet‘s Learning Centre. Lou Brown is a long time SeniorNet member who gives much of his time to those activities. His technical background comes in handy and In between courses at the Learning Centre, Lou, assisted by Chairman, Lindsay Hunter, jumps in and takes care of electrical problems and installations in the building. 

Lou comes from a family with an engineering background. He was born in Nelson and spent much of his working life back and forth between here and Wellington. He started off as a electrical apprentice with a shipping firm. After qualification he changed to radio & tv manufacture. Lou spent 25 years in Wellington, working for Philips, the international electronics company, as a radio and tv technician, and, later, in industrial electronics. He spent time in Christchurch, but returned to Wellington, where he discovered people were fighting for jobs in his field. This, among other factors, brought Lou back to Nelson, where he found employment with the Hospital as an electrician.

Music is one of Lou‘s many interests. After a period of learning and honing his skills, he decided he‘s reached a level of expertise that enabled him to fulfil a long–held desire to play the organ in the Wellington Town Hall. As a member of a local organ club, he performed recitals and has also played the organ in Nelson‘s Christchurch Cathedral. One of Lou‘s other interests is yachting. While in a large house in Upper Hutt, he built a trailer boat, which he sailed around Wellington Harbour. Later he entered the New Year‘s boat race from Nelson to Kaiteriteri, expecting an easy win. Unfortunately, his confidence was misplaced and he came last, however, the boat was very successful, and Lou spent a lot of time sailing around the Sounds.

Now Lou is "back on the radio". He‘s been a ham radio enthusiast since he was a schoolboy and is amazed at how radio has developed from what it used to be. As well as the technical aspect, it‘s a great social activity, enabling Lou to be in touch with people far and wide.
(From Newsletter - November 2014)