Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Man who’s given away £2BN
Andy hands over Lotto cheques.. but lockdown adds new twist for winners
A VISIT from Andy Carter is always an enriching experience.
The 46-year-old works for National Lottery operator Camelot, travelling up and down the land to collect jackpot tickets for checking.
He also delivers lifechanging cheques to the lucky winners – and has witnessed every imaginable reaction.
Indeed, Andy does not get out of bed to deliver a cheque for less than £50,000.
He said: “I have given £2billion to winners over 14 years. I have seen people cry, jump around, break down in tears... they can get very emotional.
“Last year was a real bumper one – I handed out £300million.”
Of course, the job is tricker under the social distancing requirements of the lockdown.
But punters have scooped £130million since the pandemic hit and find weird and wonderful ways to collect their winnings.
One pushed their ticket through the letterbox, while another put it in a plastic bag on the end of a litter picker. Andy collected it and put a bottle of champagne in the bag (“Lanson, though other brands are available,” he confides) before returning it to the lucky punter.
Another ticket was tucked under a garden gnome.
Senior winners’ adviser Andy, from Cardiff, said: “Normally, we are out and about most of the time and visit people’s homes. During lockdown, we have had to speak to people via video calls but we still have to collect winning tickets ourselves.
“They are pushing the tickets through the letterbox, leaving it outside under a gnome or ornament, or waving it outside the window – it is most unusual.
“The biggest one was £3million. There are many who play online now.”
Andy’s recent winners include last month’s £58m Euromillions punter Ryan
Hoyle. The 38-year-old joiner, from near Rochdale, Gtr Manchester, celebrated by enjoying a beer in the garden with his brother – while social distancing.
And on May 5 Anthony Canty, 33, from Maldon in Essex, pocketed £1m in the Euromillions draw.
Recent whoppers handled by Andy, who leads an eight-strong team, include a single UK player who won a £170m
I have seen people cry, jump around, break down in tears.. they can get emotional
ANDY CARTER ON RESPONSES WHEN HE CONFIRMS A BIG WIN
Euromillions prize last October – a record-breaker after five draws rolled over. And an anonymous winner scooped £123m in June 2019.
Patrick and Frances Connolly, from Northern Ireland, won the £114.9m Euromillions jackpot in the New Year’s Day draw. And Ade Goodchild banked £71m in March, while an anonymous player bagged £38.2m last month.
Andy tells how everyone plays the “what I would do if I won the lottery” game. But he says while they think of opening businesses, travelling the world and investing in outlandish schemes, the reality is very different.
He said: “When it comes to it, they know that they have the chance to change people’s lives.”
Many of the recent top 100 winners have spoken about the millions that have gone to good causes hit by Covid19. And Andy has seen many write out bumper cheques for charity. He said: “You cannot go on holiday, go abroad, even celebrate at a posh restaurant now. But you can give to charity. People write a cheque, it is easy. I have seen them giving £30,000, £40,000, £50,000 because they can.
“We always say to people ‘take your time’ when they have won. The benefit of winning at this strange time is that you have to take a step back due to the restrictions.”
Only one winner has elected to wait until after the pandemic to collect their cash. Many have been inspired to give after hearing how charities hit by Covid-19 will get £600m in National Lottery funding. Packages span the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sport.
Up to £300m from The National Lottery Community Fund is going Uk-wide to groups best placed to support people and communities.
Sport England said £157m of lotto funding will go to a package to support the sport and physical activity sector.
There was a 13.5% rise in lottery ticket sales to £3.9bn in the first half of the last financial year and even during the pandemic, having a flutter remains as popular as ever.
But Andy, like all Camelot employees, is not allowed to play the game. He said: “I cannot buy a ticket. But this is the next best thing to winning. It really is a lovely job.”