CSSC Member Ginger Parker shares his story
Filling out the online application was where it all began, never thinking for one minute that I would get 
though the paper sift. So it came as quite a surprise to be invited for an interview, after all I am 68 and
retired. With not a little trepidation I set off for the Oxford University which would you believe is in Coventry.
It had me wondering as well, I can tell you!
I was accepted as a Games Maker, and was given the dates I would be required to be at the Lord's Cricket ground in London, where I would be part of the work party for the October International Archery test event, which included archers from as far a field as South Korea, Japan, Australia, USA as well as our own British team.
With the high prices of accommodation in London and not knowing anyone who lived there who might help, I was a little concerned about the amount of money I would have to spend self-funding for accommodation, but I then found that the CSSC had an arrangement with London Civil Service Club which would give me a discount, as I would be there for ten days, this would be a great help.
I was required to be at Lord's for training on the Friday morning, at 0900 and, as this would mean leaving home about 0400 I decided to stay overnight on the Thursday and brave the underground on Friday morning, I have never used the tube before.
Using the underground for the first time was a little disorientating but I got there on time. After booking in, Myself and the rest of the games makers, were given a talk by the Lords management about the area we would be working in, and then by the event management about the tasks which each group, working day shifts, would be allocated each day. I was assigned as a marshal on the field of play, this meant that I would be working with the athletes in checking their passes at the entrance to the shooting area's, and escorting them from the practice ground to the tournament field, which is the area where the international cricket is played. At the end of the training day we were given T/shirts and a jacket with LONDON PREPARES on the back, and an identification pass to wear around our necks, we have been asked to wear dark trousers.
My first day went well and I was assigned to the entrance to the practice range. The day was warm and sunny and I needed sun block on, which was a bonus in October.
The warm weather lasted for three days and in that time the archers had one practice day followed by ranking rounds to decide the seeding for the main event. Throughout the week the wind gradually got stronger but even so, the world record holder, from South Korea, managed to shoot a new world record on the first day of the ranking event.
It was really good to watch the best archers in the world, first working with their coaches, then in competition against each other. On one day I was escorting the international press as they were interviewing the top archers, I thought this was too good an opportunity to miss so I took off my Games Maker T/shirt and asked each archer to sign it for me as they came to be interviewed, it was fortunate I had another underneath so my dignity was upheld.
As the event drew to a close, I was assigned to the medal ceremonies and responsible for raising the National flags for the teams, ladies and gents Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. I didn't get any upside down or in the wrong order, phew.
My thoughts on my experience as a games maker are that without the help of CSSC the cost would have been prohibitive, but the experience was worth every penny. I don't know if I can go to the Olympics next year as a games maker unless I get help, as the cost of accommodation in London will be double what it is now, and already the Civil Service club is fully booked for most of that time. So if there is someone out there that knows me, and lives in London please help.
Ginger Parker,
GCHQ Ret.
