A GREAT grandmother will be one of the lucky people attending an Olympic event – 64 years after being the last games held in London.

Sports fan Jean O’Callaghan, 72, will be watching women’s hockey at the Olympic Park in Stratford, on August 4, with her granddaughter, Chelsi, and boyfriend Sam, after they gave her the ticket as a Christmas present.

Mrs O’Callaghan was just eight and a pupil at Townfield School – which later became Uxbridge College’s Hayes campus – at the time of the 1948 games in London.

She went on a school trip, organised by Hayes and Harlington Urban District Council, to watch the athletics at the old Wembley Stadium, which was officially known as the Empire Stadium.

“We took a coach there, and we sat very high up in the stadium,” said Mrs O’Callaghan.

“I remember watching the javelin, but I didn’t know what a javelin was, and I remember thinking ‘why are they throwing sticks?’

“I realised what they were a few years later. It was also dry, although I think this time around we will need our macs and umbrellas to watch the games.”

Mrs O’Callaghan, a keen sprinter as a teenager, has always been a fan of Chelsea Football Club.

She was once a regular on the terraces at the club’s Stamford Bridge stadium, but her more recent trips to football matches have been to watch her grandchildren play for their school team.

Speaking about her Christmas present, she said: “When my granddaughter gave me the tickets, I said to her ‘I used to play hockey,’ and she just said ‘I know Nan, I remember you telling me’.

“It was such an enormous surprise. I was absolutely gobsmacked.

“Most people don’t get to go to one Olympics in their life, so I am very lucky to be going to a second one in this country.”

Granddaughter Chelsi added: “Christmas is a hard time for us, as our grandad, my nan’s husband Chris O’Callaghan, had his birthday on Christmas Day.”

“Sadly, he passed away nearly four years ago, so seeing my Nan smile on Christmas Day was something special.”