A retired Biggleswade factory worker and an engineer based in the town have won £1,000,000 plus a luxury trip to Rio in a special EuroMillions draw – with the lucky ticket bought in a Letchworth supermarket.
Syndicate of two Maggie Pendergast and Steve Kerr, who are family friends and both live in Langford, scooped the prize with a lucky dip ticket bought by Maggie at Morrisons’ Letchworth town centre store.
And Maggie still went to play bingo after finding out about the mammoth windfall.
“I get two EuroMillions Lucky Dip tickets every week and Steve has a couple too,” said Maggie, 79.
“I always get the tickets from Morrisons in Letchworth for the Friday night draw, and always check the tickets on the Saturday morning.
“Last Saturday, September 10, I checked the numbers on the TV – I looked, looked again and then stared at the TV.
“Steve came around, we were both a bit shocked and stunned. Both our minds were, well, on another planet and we had to ask my daughter-in-law Sue to call the National Lottery hotline to stake our claim for us.
“I can’t honestly remember any other part of that Saturday other than going out to bingo in the evening, but I never told a soul as I just couldn’t believe it was really happening.”
Maggie and Wharf Engineering employee Steve didn’t realise they had won not just £1,000,000 but also a plush Brazilian holiday – one of five prizes offered to mark lottery players’ support for the Paralympic GB team.
They will be joined on the trip for four to Rio by Maggie’s son Jason, his wife Sue and their son Jolon, one of widowed Maggie’s eight grandchildren.
For Maggie, family is who she wants to help the most.
She said: “I will use the money to buy a new mobility scooter, a new hearing aid and a new bed. I will use the rest to help everyone in my family.”
After enjoying the summer’s sporting action on TV, Steve – who helps Maggie with the shopping and trips out – is looking forward to seeing Rio for himself.
The 57-year-old said: “I’m going to buy a new car, enjoy the Rio trip and then decide what to do with the rest of my winnings.
“I’m feeling fantastic at the moment, the trip to Rio will be amazing.
“Having watched both the Olympics and Paralympics during the summer, it’s just brilliant to be able to visit the country myself. It really is beyond my wildest dreams.”
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