I've never been to Walton-on-Naze, but this badge always makes me happy- the bright colours, the sun with sunglasses and a bucket and spade makes me nostalgic for childhood holidays.

It's a tap, and it says "thing" on it. It's been through the wash a few times, which has added brown stains that almost suggest the effects of a burst pipe. It was a gift from Grace Connor, origin unknown.

Original 70's Wire badge, probably bought at a gig, maybe the "Better Badges" stall at the Leeds Futurama 1979, or at a Wire gig in Middlesbrough, but to be honest I can't remember.

It's based on the design of the "I Am The Fly" single, but simplified. I like the mathematical cleanliness of the design, and the colour and font of the text.

Teardrop Explodes badge sent to me by Julian Cope, Summer 1979. The design is taken from the cover of their first single "Sleeping Gas" on Zoo records. I like the mysterious piano motif and the clean black, white and red design.

In contrast to the Teardrop Explodes badge above, the design of the above badge ("The Groundhogs 1963-2003" in case you can't work it out) is pretty rubbish, the guitar shape just doesn't work. The gig I got it at, on the other hand, was fantastic;- The 100 Club, December 2003- the original McPhee, Cruikshank and Pustelnik line-up playing tracks from "Split" and "Thank Christ for the Bomb".

Got this badge when Ruth and I went to Vilnius last year. It's obviously from the days when Lithuania was part of the Soviet Union. I've no idea what ENSU (ENSV?) is, but I love the simple hi-tech design and the way the lettering curves with the badge. The Lithuanians don't share my nostalgia for the Soviet days. Check the massive pin- ouch!

I've never been to Whipsnade Park Zoo either (although I remember it being on "Blue Peter" a lot). I like the way the picture of the lion looks like it's been solarised- it also seems to be turning into the MGM label on old Velvet Underground LPs. The text reading "Lion" seems a little superfluous, to say the least.

I bought this at Chislehurst Caves, an amazing (man made) cave system not far from where I live.It's worth a visit. You're given an oil lamp like the one on the badge. Spooky and labyrinthine.

By far the cheesiest of the set of badges made to promote Resonance FM, (and soon to become very collectable, badge fans). Curiously, unless you knew the wavelength of Resonance FM you would never know it was for them- in fact you could be forgiven for thinking it was snoozarama station "Heart FM".

Another Soviet Bloc badge, this time showing two idealised workers shaking their chains above the legend "NOW ROCK '85". I've no idea what Now Rock 85 was. I found this badge on the pavement in Notting Hill, and wore it for about two years during the time I worked at Record and Tape Exchange.