Major Panayi retired from the regular army in 2017 after 31 years’ service; initially enlisting as an infantry soldier into the Queen’s Regiment and later the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) on amalgamation of the Queen’s Regiment and The Royal Hampshire Regiment in 1992.
On completion of his soldier career as the Regimental Sergeant Major for 2 PWRR in 2007, Major Panayi was successful in commissioning into the PWRR where he continued to serve as a Late Entry (LE) Officer, mainly with 2 PWRR.
During his long distinguished military career, Major Panayi has served in all the main operational theatres where the British Army has deployed during his service including; multiple operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. He has also deployed extensively around the world seeing service with the BAOR in Germany, Austria, Poland, Cyprus, France, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Ascension Islands, South Korea, USA, Canada, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa and across the United Kingdom including a tour of public duties in the City of London.
On retirement from the regular army in 2017, Major Panayi transferred his service to the army reserves, serving with the 3 PWRR where he operated as the Community Engagement Officer, operating mainly within the local community in Kent. In 2020 he was mobilised under Operation Rescript the largest UK peacetime military operation with the purpose to assist the UK's efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Besides transferring to the army reserves since retirement from the regular army, Major Panayi has taken some personal time to pursue his love of world travel and long distance hiking, completing several 900 mile backpacking treks across various hiking trails in Europe. He has also completed some voluntary work in South Africa, operating in the Kruger National Safari Park and conducting training and assistance to local Park Rangers with anti-poaching operations.
Major Panayi’s other interests include motorcycle touring, novice guitar playing, reading and cooking. He is devoted father and grandfather to his three grown up children and two grandchildren, he currently resides in South East London.
