Winners of £53 million EuroMillions jackpot revealed

The couple, both 67, initially thought it was an April Fool’s Day joke when they learnt of the eight-figure win yesterday (Wednesday), The Standard has been told.

Richard is a semi-retired consultant in the poultry industry and he has been a Boston United supporter since 1958.

He was helping builders move bricks on garage work the couple are having done when he took a break to check his ticket on the National Lottery website.

Richard said: “I always keep our lottery tickets in the kitchen drawer so I took a break and went online to check the results. I looked first at the two Lucky Stars and noticed we had those. Then I scanned across to the first main number and immediately knew they all matched our numbers. I checked again and again, five times in total, as I couldn’t believe it. Then I saw only one ticket had won £53 million and I was in shock. I thought someone had scanned my ticket somehow and put it on the website as a joke. It was April Fool’s Day after all!”

Richard immediately called Camelot to confirm the win and put his mind at rest – but kept the win to himself for four more hours until Angela got home from helping cook for a local OAP luncheon club.

Richard said: “I knew Angela would be busy and wouldn’t answer her mobile phone so I waited til she got home. I kept myself busy making cups of tea for the builders because I couldn’t sit still but didn’t say anything to anyone!

“When Angela came back later that afternoon, she was carrying a basket of tea towels and she started asking me about our dinner plans that evening. I immediately told her we weren’t going out for dinner. I said ‘we can’t go out for dinner Angela, I’ve got something to tell you’.”

Angela said: “I didn’t know what to think. Richard just went red in the face and then said ‘we’ve won £53 million’. I just said ‘don’t be stupid’ – he’s always playing jokes so I thought it was an April’s Fool! I just didn’t believe it then he showed me the numbers on the website and I dropped the basket of tea towels on the floor. I then just sat down in the chair for about half an hour stunned!”

The couple then called their two daughters, Sharon, 45, and Paula, 44, who immediately came around – but they too thought it was an April Fool’s joke.

The couple are still planning what to do with their amazing windfall but helping their family is top of the list – as well as the local community.

Richard is a member of Woodhall Spa Rotary Club, helping raise money for charity and support young people in the area, including young carers.

Angela is a member of the Woodhall Spa Inner Wheel and volunteers at a local OAP luncheon club every week.

Richard said: “It’s a life-changing amount of money – £1 million would have been amazing but £53 million enables you do so much, not just for you, but those around you.

“Our local community is really important to us, in particular helping young people in the area. The win will enable us to spend more time getting involved as well as give financial support.”

In addition to helping causes close to their heart, the couple are planning to upgrade their planned holiday later in the year.

Angela said: “Richard and I were already going to New Zealand for New Year but the win means we can now take the whole family with us for Christmas too – and of course we’ll go first class!”

The win will also enable Richard, a huge sports fan, to retire completely and have more time to enjoy both watching – and playing sport.

“I’ve followed Boston United since 1958 and I play golf and bowls in my spare time. Now I can spend time following some of the big sporting events across the world – and Angela can shop while I do it! “

With a garage extension already taking place, Richard will also treat himself to a top of the range Range Rover and Angela is looking forward to indulging in some designer handbags and shoes.

The couple’s win has catapulted them into tenth place in the National Lottery Rich List. Top of the list are Colin and Chris Weir from Largs who banked £161 million in July 2011.

The EuroMillions Lucky Dip ticket was bought from McColls on Silver Street in Coningsby and the winning numbers were 8, 20, 24, 28, 49 and Lucky Stars 8 and 9.