The words which come to mind
when thinking about London’s
Games Makers include: cheerful, flexible, engaged, optimistic, generous, confident
and dedicated.
Collaborating with Olympic Volunteers
on The Last Mile has been a joy and a privilege. I say collaborate because, despite being paid
to manage an area around Greenwich
Park, interaction with
volunteers has not been anything like work.
Not a grumbler or egoist in sight, operations have been made fun, easy
and pleasurable. And, given half a
chance, I’d hire each and every one five times over.
The Volunteer Games Makers are
living proof that a positive frame of mind and a healthy dose of good-will goes
a long way. And side by side with our
athletes, the volunteers have done much to inspire a generation – reigniting our
appreciation for cheerful and honest service, for generosity, camaraderie and personal
responsibility.
David Cameron captured our collective
admiration well when he said he wished he could bottle Games Maker spirit. So as many of these wonderful volunteers
prepare to go back to their pre-Olympic lives, and we wait to meet a new round of
happy faces at the Paralympics, it leaves me wondering: what can Londoners do,
individually and collectively, to try and preserve the volunteer legacy?
I imagine there are many ways to
emulate the example set by volunteers… but here are a few questions to help us kick-start:
Can we continue to smile at strangers on the street? Can we step back and let people pass rather
than push and shove onto public transport?
Can we stay away from the office water-cooler and give each other the
benefit of the doubt? Can we believe in ourselves
and the prospect of making a difference?
Can we give before expecting to receive?
Can we be positive despite the temptation to criticise and
complain? Can we remember that the
things which divide us are less than the human needs and goals which unite us? Can we make time to be kind… perhaps stop and have a laugh with someone we might otherwise have ignored?
Or
, can we simply volunteer?
If you think that’s pie in
the sky, then choose a few paragraphs below and allow me to introduce you to a selection
of the inspiring volunteers I found on the Last Mile route to Greenwich Park.
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Grant Speed is husband to Jo and father to Jake (6) and Alex (3). Born in Arbroath and living in Greenloaning,
near Dunblane, he is a Group Financial Controller for a hotel company, the Jurys
Inn. He used his holiday leave to come
to London for
the Games, and bunked down with relatives.
Grant wanted to be a volunteer because he reached a
point in his life where he realised he was not likely to be an Olympian in the
truest sense. But, loving sport, and
wanting to get involved behind the scenes, he knew that it doesn’t get any
bigger than an Olympics in your home country.
He also felt, being Scottish, that it was important the British Games
were well and truly represented.
Starting out Grant kept his expectations in check. He accepted the days would be long, and that
he might be miles away from stadium, standing in the rain… but he also knew that
“these things are what you make them”… and that “getting involved is the only
way to make things happen”.
That open, ‘can do’ spirit, is typical of London Games
Makers, so I’m pleased to share his happy stories: “I wandered into the Greenwich Tavern one night
to find the GB gold medal showjumping team with medals and full pints. What a great
bunch of people” he said, “we even managed to get ourselves on to the BBC live
broadcast from the Tavern with Clare Balding.
It was an awesome night!!!”
The fun continued: Grant wore sympathetic sideburns to
see “Wiggo win gold”, and delighted in the joy he observed in a crowd of
Japanese spectators standing in the rain to watch the Women’s Marathon. In his travels he reports to meeting
“princesses, athletes and former soap stars” but, to Grant, the volunteers were
the “greatest bunch of people”. Finally,
he added, “sneaking into the Greenwich Arena to watch competition while I ate
lunch on a couple of occasions, beats any lunchtime, anywhere!” And I’m sure there’s not a soul who would
begrudge our volunteers such a moment of reward.
Graham Charlesworth lives in Bridgend, South Wales, and
works for an outsourcing company as an Operations Trainer. He explains: “I sent my application in to be
a volunteer back in October 2010. I was sitting at home with friends who were
thinking of doing it, so I jumped on the bandwagon. I didn’t really think about what would be
involved but knew with the Olympics in London
I would be a fool not to want to be involved in some capacity. As the selection
process went on, I got more and more excited. I was given the role of Last Mile
Operations (I really didn't know what it meant at the time) and have thoroughly
enjoyed taking the experience for what it is. I didn't come in to this
expecting to make lifelong friends but wanted to take as much out of it as
possible. But I have to say, I have met
some fantastic people who I will definitely be keeping in touch with.”
Graham appreciates that, in
order to have the Olympic experience, he has been “lucky enough to have a very
supportive wife, family and work colleagues.”
He took twelve days off work “at a point where there really is no spare
resource… but my manager was aware of the opportunity I’d been given”. In order to honour his volunteering
commitment, Graham needed to move down from Wales
to stay with family on the outskirts of London,
and most impressive is that this involved leaving behind his loving wife with their
five year old daughter, Evie, and their twelve week old son, Archie!
“To say I am immensely proud
of what I have been involved in, is understatement.” Graham’s had lots of text messages of support
from friends and family but admits to getting slightly emotional after reading
a text from his dad on the golden Saturday night after Team GB won all the
medals. The message read: “Proud to be
British today, but more proud of you for volunteering x.” Graham concluded our discussion with: “I can't
wait to get home and bore people with all the stories - over and over again!!!” And no doubt he’ll generously thank his
patient wife and boss for their contribution!
Donna Beckford-Smith lives in Luton, Bedfordshire. As
this was too far to travel to Greenwich for each
shift, she told me “I am blessed to be able to stay at a colleague’s home in
Chorleywood, which is only 2 hours from Greenwich”. Staggered by her commitment and unfailing
smile, Donna explained:
“I always wanted to be an
athlete at the Olympics, but volunteering is the next best thing. To be
involved in the atmosphere and to say I was there is unbelievable. In my every day life I work as a Blood
Transfusion Nurse Specialist, at Stoke
Mandeville Hospital. I have enjoyed my volunteering experience, no
words can describe how amazing it has been - meeting so many wonderful people
has been breathtaking.”
Donna is a woman well
accustomed to a profession of service, and first hand I greatly appreciated the
good cheer and quiet professionalism she brought to the Last Mile Team!
Aurélien Urbanek
(27) is a French national who grew up
in Paris. Pictured here with myself and Eva Paterson, another dedicated volunteer from Scotland, when Aurélien isn’t working on the Last Mile at Greenwich
Park he works in
Marseille as a Civil Engineer.
When
asked why he got involved in the Games, Aurélien showed why the volunteer spirit we’d like
to bottle is so precious: “Good question
- especially when we all know that Paris,
my favourite city, was in competition for hosting the 2012 Olympic Games! But still, I really wanted to be a part of it
and to serve as a volunteer. I believe
that London 2012 does not belong exclusively to the UK but to the entire world and the
205 countries represented during the Games. It is a worldwide event and it
doesn't matter where you're from as long as you want to make the Games the best
experience for everyone. More personally,
I wanted to become a volunteer because I realised, that at 27, I wasn’t doing very
much for others. I think I was a little bit too selfish during the last few
years and that I wasn't generous enough.”
When asked about the nature of
his Games experience, this self-effacing and impressive young man went on to say: “The experience has been great. When I
applied to become a volunteer, I didn't imagine that the atmosphere would be so
intense. People are just amazing. The public is showing a great sympathy toward
the volunteers and especially with the Last Mile team members. But above all,
it's been such a pleasure to work with the other volunteers. I've discovered so
many different people, so many different cultures and experiences. I was a
little bit surprised when I found that many volunteers are not coming from London… but from all over the UK and even from abroad. I have learned
a lot during the Games and I will miss all the volunteers with whom I have worked. But
my next step is to go back to France
and share my incredible adventure with my family. I'm also thinking about volunteering for Rio de Janeiro in 2016...
so I better start learning Portuguese before the interviews start!"
Rhian
Jones lives and works in Cardiff,
Wales.
She is a solicitor with
her own legal practice. This summer she took two weeks annual leave from work,
and embarked upon her first real experience of volunteering:
"I clearly remember when London
was awarded the Olympics back in 2005, and I wanted to try and be in London to see the greatest
show on earth. I've always had a passion for sport, and always spend many hours
watching wall to wall coverage of the Olympics. When I heard they were looking
for volunteers to help, I thought this would provide an excellent opportunity
to be in London
to experience all the buzz and excitement. I instantly sent in an application
and crossed my fingers that it would be successful!”
“I've spent my time at London 2012 based at Greenwich Park, and I couldn't have wished for a
better venue. It is simply a breathtaking venue, with the views across the park towards the city providing (in my opinion)
some of the most iconic images of the Games. I was part of the Last Mile team,
and it was great to be part of such an energetic team which interacted
extensively with the public. It was impossible not to get drawn in by the
excitement of the spectators as they came in and out of the venue. I loved
hearing about their day, and seeing the children so excited about attending the
Games and supporting team GB. Whilst some of the shifts were long, I was lucky
enough to see some of the sporting action. Being in the arena as team GB won
the Dressage Gold was spine tingling… watching the Show Jumping was just so
tense… and catching the GB Eventing Team win Silver, just amazing.”
“Clearly I couldn’t
commute from Wales, but the
cost of hotels in London
during the Olympics was high if added up over a couple of weeks. So through www.campingatthegames.com I stayed
at Blackheath Rugby Club. It was
fantastic, and even better was that the revenue raised is to be put back into
the running of the rugby club; thus benefitting the local community and
creating a lasting legacy. The camp site
was excellent, and packed with Games Makers. There was a cafe providing
breakfast and hot meals throughout the day, and a fabulous bar where we could
watch the Olympics and meet fellow campers. This bar had a wonderful
atmosphere, and when GB won a medal the roof was raised! The campsite was only
fifteen minutes by bus from Greenwich
Park which was another
bonus, especially as some people were commuting for several hours each day.
I can honestly say that I
loved every minute of my volunteering experience at London 2012. We were a motley bunch but I've made some
fantastic friends… had a photo with a gold medal (and its owner)… and been in London at probably the
best time. The Olympics in my home country is a once in a lifetime experience,
and one that I didn't want to miss, and in years to come I can look at my
photos and souvenirs and remember that "I was there".”
Stephen Clarke
lives in Blackheath, near the Greenwich Park Last Mile operation. He is a Chartered Surveyor, running his own
company based in Dartford:
“The company was started by my
father in 1982 so we are celebrating our thirtieth anniversary in this most
special of years. I work with solely residential property and I still remember
exactly which house I was in when the decision was made to give the Games to London in 2005. I surprised myself with how much this seemed
to mean to me (and the strangers I celebrated with), and decided there and then
to try and get involved. At the time I was a callow 42 year old with a
successful company, and I naively thought I’d be able to easily afford to take
two weeks off to volunteer. As it
happens... business took a significant downward turn in 2008 and though the
company kept going, my Dad retired, and my wife went up to the city to work
rather then managing my office.
Nevertheless I kept my promise
to myself and applied to be a Games Maker as soon as it was possible. I chose Greenwich because I love
it and know the area well. I have no
sporting qualifications really (except as a scuba diver), so I knew I had to be
prepared to do anything and that seemed just fine. What I was looking forward
to was the team spirit and I have not been one bit disappointed in that regard.
I work on my own an awful lot and so
miss the camaraderie (if not the politics) of having workmates.
Again it is the generosity and lack of ego which shines from Stephen’s next
comment: “Each shift I do on the
Olympics costs me a survey which is about £350.
But hey ho! It’s summer. And I probably would not have managed to book a
job on every single day anyway! I don't
regret it. The volunteers are great; and
some of the paid staff too. But the public
has really made it for me. We are
mirrors of each others moods and the mood was always good. When I look back on my whole life I am sure
that this will be one of the most worthwhile things that I have done.”
‘On post’ I watched Steve repeatedly work his magic with the public, with a delightful
combination of easy hospitality and charm, so though I was supremely jealous to
have missed it myself, I was happy to hear him report he gained one particular reward
from his volunteering: “I would even have done it all just for the ticket to
the opening ceremony dress rehearsal. That experience will stick with me for
ever. One of the greatest live shows ever and only performed three times. Never
to be repeated.”
David Lungley (65)
lives in Exmoor, Somerset. However during the Games he stayed with his
daughter, in Haringay, North London. A retired Chemistry Teacher and Sports Coach,
David volunteered for multiple reasons:
“Firstly, I knew that, being
retired, I would have the time to help.
Secondly, I believe everyone
should do charitable things when they can. Thirdly, I hate the effect the pursuit of money has on Sports like
Football and Indian Premier League Cricket… because for me that's not ‘sport’. By contrast I love the Olympic Games, where
people compete in the more traditional way for the glory. And fourthly, I believe very strongly in the
benefits to the world of all the countries competing in friendly rivalry, with
mutual tolerance and respect, rather than fighting foolishly over unimportant
differences.”
David has not been
disappointed. He has been “thrilled with
the sporting atmosphere which has emerged in everyone, so refreshingly unmaterialistic…”
and with his experience of the ethnic diversity of London.
His experience, he says, has been “absolutely brilliant”, and again he
reminds us of the positive energy which emanates from people when they are
tuned in to the notion of ‘giving something back’.
Originally from Manchester, Derek Lucas, 67, lives in Congleton
Cheshire. He’s been married to Lorna for
45 years and has 2 daughters, Rachael & Rebecca; both married with children.
Derek took retirement in 2000 from his
position as Agricultural Manager with a major UK bank. He has also lectured in
related banking topics for over 35 years.
Involved over many years in running clubs and athletics, in 2002 Derek volunteered
to work at the Manchester Commonwealth Games. As a driver, he acted as a
chaperone for athletes who were randomly chosen to take a drug test. So when London was awarded the
2012 Olympic Games he knew immediately he wanted to take part in what he
described as a “momentous event”. Though
initially disappointed not to be placed in a role closer to the athletes, Derek’s
story of relocation and throwing himself fully into the spirit of the Games is
typical of so many resourceful volunteers, that you could almost say he
experienced The Real Olympic Park.
Living over 200 miles from London,
finding accommodation quickly became a priority for Derek. Due again to cost, hotels were out of the
question. Nor did he know anybody in the
area who could offer a spare room. Yet Derek
came across Ninja Camping who were
arranging with sports clubs across London
to use their facilities for camping. Like Rhian, he arranged to camp on Rugby Club
grounds, this time at Eltham, where, for a mere £10 a night, he had 24/7 hot
showers, meals, bar, and access to a bus which took him directly to Greenwich
in thirty-five minutes. Of the 250 tents
at this site, Derek reports about a third were volunteers, the rest Olympic tourists. And cleverly the volunteers were placed
all together on a quiet part of the field and bonded accordingly.
Derek describes his experience thus: “My first shift was 7.30am on
Saturday 28th July and I was designated to meet the ferries from
central London
near the Cutty Sark. Initially I was
quiet and reserved (what do you expect from a retired Bank Manager) but after a
short while decided that I had to throw myself into the role. I became determined that nobody went past me
without acknowledging me, and all children, up to the age of 90+, had to high-five
my big pink foam finger. As time went on the comments became louder, but more
challenging to try and raise a smile. Interactions
like “welcome to the ferret and elephant racing” sometimes did the trick. In addition he committed himself to the “Smile
Mile”, where he encouraged everyone to smile as they where shepherded into the
venue. The best part Derek said “was
that the spectators had come along to enjoy themselves; and British
reserve became a thing of the past.”
He reports “the shifts were long, tiring, and talking, shouting and
singing for four hours can be wearing”.
But confirming we tend to get out of things exactly what we put in, he
added “but the comments, handshakes and hugs we received made the sore throats
and sore feet worthwhile, and meeting so many people from all over the world
was the highlight. It was a brilliant
sixteen days which will live in the memory. I will be boring my family and friends for weeks
with my tales and, like a fisherman’s stories, they will grow and grow.”
So where does the volunteer who went home with an officially presented certificate
in his bag declaring “The Most Energetic Last Miler” go from here? His reply: “The Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
2014. If they want volunteers I am their
man!” And all evidence shows they’d be lucky to have him!
JoAnne
Hughes (known as Jo) was born in Hong Kong. Based
for over 30 years in the UK,
her home town is Guildford, Surrey. She works for a networking systems company as
a communications manager: “I help senior people in my company communicate in a
way that inspires people and get the point across in a clear and succinct way”. When asked why she volunteered for the
Olympics, she explains:
“I've been volunteering to
support equestrian sport for many years, at local riding club events as well as
national events run by the British Horse Society and Association of British
Riding Clubs. When London 2012 called out for volunteers, I didn't hesitate. I
just wanted to be there to do my bit to make London 2012 successful, and to
soak up the atmosphere. I'm a keen horse rider and put Greenwich as my top choice when I filled in
my LOCOG application form. From the first day, seeing all the spectators at Greenwich, I knew it was
going to be great fun. Everyone was in a good mood (even when the torrential
rains came) and I just loved interacting with people from all around the world.
Everywhere I went in my Games Maker Uniform people spoke to me, wanting to know
where I was working, what I was doing. But the biggest highlight for me, were
my fellow Games Makers. They were all amazing, wonderful people.
I wish the Games could go on -
I really don't want the experience to end!”
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And right there, I guess Jo
says it all. Despite our Last Mile
blisters and rolling Olympic hangovers, we’re sad it’s over. We’re feeling a lull. But let’s harness that wonderful spirit, and trust
our city and community can grow from strength to strength. It simply begins with a smile…
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