My Favourite Pin Story

Name: Claire Bernthal

From: Canterbury

How long have you been collecting? Since 21st July 2012, my 1st day as a Games Maker

How many pins do you own? 23

During the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics I had the privilege of volunteering as a Games Maker in the Athlete's Village. I worked as part of the bus transport team. For many of my shifts I worked orange which was team transport and here I helped send off the "perky" Dutch hockey boys, a word which I was introduced to the after several early morning starts and far too much coffee!

So my favourite pin (and my first ever) was from their captain Floris Evers attached to my accreditation with pride! This was followed up by getting the chance to watch them play some sublime hockey from the front row. Happy memories.

Name: Dave Durfey

From: Stoney Creek, Canada

How long have you been collecting? 4 years

How many pins do you own? 100

Like the Star Wars Saga, our London 2012 pin trading story begins a long, long time ago. In 1994 we met, and became very good friends with, a wonderful family from London, England when they lived in Canada for a year. Since then they have been back to visit us numerous times. Although invited countless times, we had not been to see them due to an aversion to flying. As a last ditch effort to get us to come to England, our friends made us promise that we would come if London was awarded the 2012 Olympic Games. We agreed, figuring we would not have to go because at the time Paris was the front runner to win the bid.

To our surprise we were woken in the early morning hours on July 5, 2005 by our British friends asking if we had purchased our plane tickets yet because London had just been selected as host city for the 2012 Olympics. The planning began.

I had heard that pin trading was a big event among Olympic spectators. As luck would have it the 2010 Winter Games were in Canada and I emailed all of the Olympic partners, suppliers and supporters requesting pins. A number of them sent pins to me and I kept the duplicates to take to London. I tried the same thing with the London 2012 partners without success. Undeterred, I headed to London armed with my bag of 2010 Olympic pins.

When we arrived at our friend's house, there was a beautiful stitched welcoming banner hanging in the window. I knew instantly that we now had a place to display the pin collection I was hoping to get.

On the morning of our first visit to an Olympic venue, Hyde Park, I loaded a couple of lanyards with pins for trading. I could see, from the looks of my teenage sons and British friends, that they were thinking, "You're not really going to do this, it's going to be so embarrassing to be with you". Ignoring their lack of enthusiasm, I carried on, determined to win them over.

My first taste of pin trading was at the official Coca-Cola Pin Trading site in Hyde Park. There we met some "professional" pin traders, asked a million questions and learned some of the "do's and don'ts" of pin trading. The actual trading was a bit disappointing as they were not interested in trading their 2012 pins for my 2010 pins. However, I was able to trade for some really interesting pins from previous Olympic Games. I could feel that I was becoming hooked.

Back at the house that evening, to my amazement, everyone was most interested in seeing what pins I had gotten. A nightly tradition of inspecting the new pins and placing them on the banner was started. Everyone was starting to catch "pin trading fever".

I decided to change my pin trading strategy and try trading with "beginners" like myself rather than the "professionals". We (yes, the family was becoming eager pin trading participants) looked for people who had an interesting pin or two on a lanyard or jacket and asked if they would like to trade. This was the best decision we made as it was great to meet people from all over the world. There were numerous times that they said, "I've never traded before, this is neat". We'd spread "pin trading fever" to:

• DLR employees on the platform at Stratford station, and on a street corner in Lewisham
• An employee stocking shelves and another working in the information kiosk at the Cutty Sark Museum
• Games Maker volunteers in line at the Coca-Cola Beatbox pavilion
• A sales clerk at the London 2012 Shop in the Olympic Park
• A Team London Ambassador in Greenwich
• A volunteer from Vancouver, Canada working at the Information Centre in the Olympic Park
• Two volunteer ushers at Earl's Court

The best "trade" was not for a pin, but a promise. It was to a couple of very young boys from Scotland who were in London with their parents for the Olympics. We met them on the train and gave them a couple of Canada pins. Their faces lit up as these were the first pins they had gotten. They quickly had their parents put the pins on their Olympic baseball caps and in return they promised to cheer for the Canadian athletes.

Needless to say, pin trading was one of the highlights of our trip. Our banner, complete with over 60 pins, is now proudly displayed in our home. It is one of the first things our friends ask about when they come to visit, and I can see the "fever" continuing to spread. We can't wait until our next opportunity to attend an Olympic Games and enjoy pin trading once again!

Name: Ian Kershaw

From: Pinvin, Nr Pershore

How long have you been collecting? Since July 2012

How many pins do you own? 26

Just prior to starting as a volunteer at London 2012 I became aware of the worldwide phenomenon of pin trading. Until then it had largely passed me by and I started the Games with an air of nonchalance around the whole subject matter - not possessing a single pin before my first shift in the Athlete's Village.

My first pin was gifted to me by a member of the Austrian delegation when I helped him when he was in a bit if rush for something. Being given this first pin started me off but this is not my story.

My story relates to how I came about the LED flashing pin from the Nauru team. Their National Olympic Committee (NOC) assistant approached me almost in floods of tears. She was at her wits end and didn't know what to do because she had lost her LOCOG issued travelcard. She was incredibly worried that she would be charged for losing it and to compound matters even more worried that she would have to also pay for a replacement that she could ill afford. Especially as an unpaid volunteer, just like me.

The first thing I did was to calm her down and get her to realise that this wasn't in fact going to happen, she had nothing to worry about and I would solve her problems. We went off to a quiet place as she was still distressed and I quickly reassured her and calmed her down. I then took her through the paperwork so that I could issue a replacement card for her, all with the absolute minimum of fuss and mindful of her delicate emotional state.

Once the paperwork was done I got the new card for her, assured her there was no charge for this and there were no consequences for her to worry about whatsoever. Her demeanour changed from being incredibly frightened, worried and emotional to being grateful and relaxed with a true Games Maker smile coming back to her face. She couldn't thank me enough for helping her out and releasing all that worry from her shoulders as she took her new card and set off on her shift.

As I watched the purposefulness return to her stride she quickly did an about turn and walked back towards me, again still with a beaming smile and a glint in her eye. She was fiddling about with her accreditation lanyard as she removed her one and only Nauru flashing pin. She handed it to me with the words that she had never in her life felt, so hopeless and low and had that feeling completely reversed so quickly and helpfully, and that she wanted to thank me by letting me have her prized possession that had been given to her by the Chef de Mission for the Nauru team. I could see that refusing this pin would have caused offence so I smiled back, thanked her, once again wished her well as she went back off on her way and it now sits with pride of place on my own lanyard with a story that I'll never forget.

Name: Philip Quigley

From: Kent

How long have you been collecting? 4 years

How many pins do you own? 40+

I was lucky enough to perform in the Closing Ceremony for London 2012 on August 12.

I had been collecting pins over the build up to the Closing Ceremony and before as some of the logo ones had been around.

When I heard about the Closing Ceremony pin going on sale that day and there only being 10,000 around I thought I need to get myself one of these.

So I called and text people to help me in the search for one. Luckily my friends were coming to the ceremony that night and were able to get one.

I also carried on collecting and swapping during the Paralympics. I was fortunate enough to get a Coca-Cola limited edition pin from a guy at the Coca-Cola beat box and that evening in TGI's Westfield, Stratford I managed to bag myself a TGI's Pin to add to my collection, which made me a very happy guy.

Overall it was a brilliant experience and the hunt for pins made it even more fun swapping and collecting.

Name: Scott Daniells

From: Folkestone

How long have you been collecting? Just over a year

How many pins do you own? About 50

My story isn't a single exchange but more how one morning showed me how pin trading at the Olympic Games can help to bring people from all over the world together.

I first discovered Olympic pins, and started collecting them, while visiting a London 2012 shop on the way back home from my interview to be a Games Maker in 2011 and thought they were great. However, it was only during the Games when I realised the power of pin collecting and how special it could be.

My Games Maker position was to be an Olympic Family Assistant and this involved occasions where I would be waiting around outside the Olympic Family hotels for my client, which was ideal for pin collecting, but there was one morning which really stands out in my memory.

While I was waiting for my client I was talking to the interim President of the Albanian Olympic Committee. A few of us asked if she had any pins and she gave us some pins and silicone wristbands, which quickly got a queue of Games Makers forming asking if they could have some too. This delighted the Albanian representatives - the President for example had a huge smile on her face and said "You're all queuing for Albania? Nobody ever queues for Albania". She thanked us for our interest as much as we thanked her for the pins.

Just after this a small child, who mustn't have been any older than 5 or 6, came up to me and asked if I had any spare pins. He must have seen us getting the pins from the Albanian Olympic Committee but unfortunately I didn't have any spare pins, which disappointed him. However as he was wearing a Team GB hat, t-shirt, shorts, shoes, had a Union Jack painted on his face and was waving a Team GB flag I gave him a Team GB pin that I had managed to pick up as he didn't have one and I've never seen such a big smile on anybody's face - he ran back to his parents looking so happy.

A short while later I noticed one of the Accompanying Guests of the Uganda Olympic Committee giving out pins. I had already traded a pin from the Philippine Olympic Committee to get my hands on a Uganda pin, as Uganda is one of my favourite countries. So told her how I was already wearing my Uganda pin with pride. She was pleased with this and we started talking and it turns out she was from a town in the middle of Uganda that I had stayed in overnight while on a trip there a few years ago and we started chatting about our time spent in each other's countries.

That morning was probably one of the best ones I had all Games. I had a chance to chat to many people from all over the world during the time I was waiting for my client, including the few mentioned above, and much of the interaction was thanks to the pins I had been trading. I hope to be able to continue collecting and trading pins for years to come.

Name: Chris Small

From: London

How long have you been collecting? 1 month

How many pins do you own? 48

I started collecting at the start of the London 2012 Olympics - meeting people at the Coca-Cola Hyde Park Trading Centre was quite inspiring seeing the many pins people have collected throughout the years.

I decided to take a trip to the Olympic Park, as it was suggested to me by a family member that you were able to purchase a ticket on the day, and even though I doubted this, I went. After the many tube rides and long, long walks I arrived at the gates only to be told that I will not be getting in without a ticket and so I gave up on getting in.

After about half hour of talking to a Games Maker, he kindly on his break went and visited the pin trading centre in the park and got me the Olympic Park and the Olympic Village trading pins from Coca-Cola which completes the 3 pins as I was able to get in the Hyde Park trading pin.

See you in Rio!

Name: Phil Broeders

From: Wallasey

How long have you been collecting? 1 month

How many pins do you own? 15

I was hit with an ear infection during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Unable to travel back home to see my GP (and without the time to find a doctor by our hotel) I came across the medical facility next to the Press Centre in the Olympic Park.

The team there were really friendly and helpful. They were all volunteers but had not had the best Games from their point of view (having to be on call all the time, they rarely got to leave the surgery, let alone see any of the Games action). We had a great chat while waiting for the doctor and learned about how they'd all become volunteers (all were ex or current nurses).

They pretty much saved my Games as I was in a bad way before the treatment and as I was leaving we agreed a "pin for pain" swap where I rewarded them with a pin each for their time and trouble in looking after me. I only had 3 pins on me so had to run after a colleague to get enough to go around but in terms of a swap I definitely got the best of the deal!

A great memory of some great people.

Name: Dimple Patel

From: Surrey

How long have you been collecting? 2 years

How many pins do you own? 62

I've always collected a few pins here and there from doing voluntary work for smaller charities and my community temples. I was ecstatic when I was chosen to be part of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. I was chosen to be placed at the Excel Centre in where I was privileged to see numerous sports in both the games. I was part of the Events Services Team and my role was that of a Staffing Member Team Leader.

During my time it was a privilege to work with so many coaches, athletics, press and broadcast officials. I started my pin collection on Day 4 having seen other Games Makers and it started a buzz in Excel. It became a competition among us Games Makers!

My favourite pin has to be the one given to me by Glen my Black Cab driver who picked me up every day for two weeks to take me for my 5am start to the Excel Centre. We built an amazing relationship, he made a great start to my day and as a parting present gave me his London Cabbie pin which I will treasure forever.

The one that touched me the most was from another Games Maker. Luci and I worked closely at the Olympics but our shift patterns clashed at the Paralympics and I didn't get to see her on the last day of the Games. She left me a parting present of a lovely postcard with an emotional but inspirational message and a Rio 2016 pin as a memento and words of encouragement that I should be part of Rio 2016 too as I would be great at it.

Every pin I collected at the Games has a story behind it, a memory that I will cherish forever and one day hopefully live to tell my grandchildren about. My pin collection will not stop there. I have applied to work at Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and can't wait to be a part of the pin buzz again! In the meantime I will still be on hunt for precious pins that will add to my collection!

London 2012 rocked and my pins are a sentiment to that!