Britain’s oldest lotto winners
Tears of joy for dad, 87, as he wins £18m to secure daughters’ futures
CHEERS Couple, 87 and 83, who have won £18m with daughters
BRITAIN’S oldest lottery millionaire broke down in tears as he told how the £18.1million jackpot would make his children secure for life.
Grandad-of-five Dennis Banfield, 87, said he and wife Shirley, 83, would share their winnings with their daughters Tina Burgess, 54, and Karen Maddock, 51.
RAF veteran Dennis sobbed as he said: “All that has ever mattered to Shirley and I is that the girls are OK.
“We joke that it’s just a matter of time and we are playing the lottery for them, so they are financially secure for ever. To know they are is a wonderful feeling.”
He and Shirley have played three times a week since the national lottery was launched in 1994.
Dennis, who uses a walking stick as he recovers from a knee operation, bought the winning Lucky Dip ticket for Saturday’s draw at his local newsagent’s.
When they checked it first thing on Sunday and found they were £18,139,352 richer, Shirley “went berserk”. He said: “She went flying up in the air.”
Dennis, who worked at the South West Electricity Board for 40 years, called Tina,who said: “It’s not every day your parents call you at 8am to tell you they have won the lottery.”
Tina, who has three stepchildren, said: “The win means we can all take life a little calmer, enjoy our time together and share in the experience without worrying about food bills, mortgage payments or pension plans.”
She is a sports fan and may now go to the rugby union World Cup in Japan or Lions tour of South Africa. She said: “Mum and Dad always said they played
for us – I can’t tell you how pleased I am that they did.”
Her sister Karen, a mum-of-two, said the family would donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Oncology Unit at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, which had helped a friend who died, aged just 23.
Nursing assistant Karen said: “This is top of the list. There are a lot of charities for her that we will be remembering.”
Dennis and Shirley, who next month celebrate 61 years of marriage, might quit their three-bed home in Winterbourne, near Bristol, after 57 years – but not for a mansion.
Dennis said: “Perhaps it is time to say goodbye and get a bungalow.” A new car would also be tempting. “With my dodgy knee I might need a chauffeur too.”
Dennis takes the record for the oldest lotto winner from Reginald Smith, who won £2.3million, aged 85, in 2003.