Name: Anthony Townsend

From: St Albans

How long have you been collected? Since London Olympics

How many pins do you own? Approx 400

I never realised that this craze existed before the London 2012 Olympics. It has been starring me in the face every time I have visited St Albans market. John and Dan from Pins and Things have been selling me toys for my kids for years from Star Wars figures to football cards. I saw their pin badges but thought no more of it.

Then it all changed with our first visit to the Olympics to see the basketball. We came across the Coca-Cola Pin Trading Centre. We talked to a couple of guys inside and they opened our eyes. Imagine, one had even traded a pin with a US president! What sealed my fate was a tap on the shoulder outside. "Didn't we go to the same school?" I bumped into someone who went to the same school as me who turned out to be an Official Pin trader.

That day and our next six visits included some fantastic conversations with people from all over the world including athletes, Games Makers, staff and visitors about all sorts of things. What brought us together was a mutual liking of the Olympics and pin badges. It gave my kids the confidence to approach others to exchange pins and showed us all the generosity and excitement of people at the Games and of the Olympic Movement. The universal language of pins shows no boundaries.

I think my favourite moment was when we bumped in to a group of Spanish Paralympians who showered the kids with Starfish Pins. Their delight when we insisted that they take pins off our lanyards in exchange beamed over their faces. I will remember every single exchange for the rest of my life.