A GRANDMOTHER from Oakley was one of 70,000 volunteers to help at the Olympic Games in London.

Christine Neild was inspired by the memory of visiting the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada in 1976 with her husband Philip.

Mrs Neild, who was a Game-maker in London, said: “I was keen to become involved to try and ensure that visitors to our Olympics had the same opportunities that I had enjoyed all those years ago.”

Following an interview, the 61-year-old, from Pardown, was chosen to be a team leader at the Basketball Arena in the main Olympic Park.

The former headteacher of Bishopswood Infant School, in Tadley, who has two grandchildren, was involved in ticketing, seating and managing crowds. She said: “We fitted in six games per day, getting three sets of customers in and out of the venue and ensuring the arena was cleaned between sessions.”

Working 10 shifts from 2.15pm to 12.45am, Mrs Neild said she was “physically and mentally drained” at the end of the 16 days, but “very happy to have been involved”.

Her first shift began before visitors arrived and the athletes were wandering around the park. She said: “There was lots of chattering in foreign languages and a few late arrivals dragging giant bags and suitcases through to The Village.”

Mrs Neild, a mother-of-two, also attended the last rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony, and said: “As an audience, we all shared in the wonder.”

Mrs Neild encountered plenty of big names including Gary Lineker, Jonathan Edwards, Lord Coe, Denise Lewis, Dame Kelly Holmes and she was even given a handball pin by the President of South Korea.

She said the atmosphere in the park was “exuberant” adding: “One night a group of fans sang ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ as they exited.”