A father of two from Warrington is celebrating an extra special Christmas present after scooping £1m and a luxury holiday to the Northern Lights in the EuroMillions Mega Friday draw which took place on Christmas Day.
John Gill, who runs his own truck repair company in the town, only bought his ticket one hour before the draw took place. Today, he has already made a wish list ensuring he and his family have the best ever 2016!
John, 56, who is married to Patricia, an accountant, said: “I just cannot believe it – the only word for it is “surreal.” Things like this just don’t happen to John and Patricia.
“This is the best ever ending to 2015 and the best ever start to 2016!”
John, who has been married for more than 30 years and has two children with Patricia, described the moment he discovered he had won.
“I had been playing a game on line and I had run out of lives so I just thought I would check my lottery results.
“I had to check, check and check again – I just kept thinking this cannot be real!
“I just couldn’t work out if I had won £100, £1,000, or £100,000 – and then I realised it was £1,000,000. I just kept staring at my computer screen I could not believe it. It just didn’t seem real – and still doesn’t. I just kept staring at the noughts, looking away and then looking again thinking am I going cross-eyed this just cannot be true?”
John says top of his shopping list is a white Jaguar, business class travel to Australia and a trip to the Grand Canyon.
John added: “All those things that have been on our bucket list can now become a reality. Winning the lottery just opens up so many doors and the choices are endless.
“Everything we have always dreamed of doing we can now do – being able to look after our family is also so important to us.”
John’s first purchases were two mobile phones – one each for his son and daughter.
He said: “My son had his mobile phone stolen the week before Christmas. I gave him an old phone just so he wasn’t without one.
“I said to him on Christmas Eve, how are you getting on with that phone and he said it will do for now. My reply was … you never know, I may win the lottery on
Christmas Day and then you can have a new one. Never did I really believe this wish and dream would come true.”
In addition to the £1m cash prize, John and Patricia will also enjoy a one week luxury stay in one of the most spectacular lodges in Scandinavia, with private maid service and a private chef.
The couple will arrive by helicopter and be treated to the five-star luxury millionaire treatment throughout.
John said: “To win £1m is a dream in itself but to have a holiday too – and a holiday like this – is just a once in a lifetime experience.”
The EuroMillions draw takes place every Tuesday and Friday. EuroMillions costs £2 and includes the UK Millionaire Maker, which creates two new UK millionaires every week – guaranteed!
EuroMillions Mega Friday draws take place on the last Friday of each month. It creates multiple £1 million winners who receive life-changing prizes as they start their millionaire life.
The National Lottery changes the lives of winners like John and Patricia as well as communities across the UK – players raise, on average, over £34m for National Lottery-funded projects every week.
In John and Patricia’s home town of Warrington alone there have been more than 822 individual National Lottery grants made to date, funding projects across the arts, sports, heritage, health, education, environment, charity and voluntary sectors.
These include:
Culture Warrington’s Pyramid to radically transform two disused buildings into Pyramid, a cutting edge centre for the arts which opened in 2002. It was the catalyst in creating Warrington’s Cultural Quarter and for the physical regeneration of the town centre.
Heritage Family Support, a voluntary organisation that provides practical support and advice to families in Warrington. The funding from The National Lottery has allowed it to provide more services to help the community learn about living healthier and more fulfilled lives.
John and Patricia Gill from Warrington scooped 1 million pounds and a holiday to the Northern Lights after winning on Mega Friday Euro Millions draw on Christmas Day. Images by Gareth Jones
1 Comment
Wow I wish I was in their shoes and what a xmas present. I think I’d just die of shock on the spot if mine ever came up. Well done to them and happy spending 😀