OAP on hunt for lady who wanted kiss
ROMANTIC Len Whiffin
A “SHY” pensioner has returned to the same bus stop every week for the past nine months in a bid to find his love interest.
Retired bus conductor Len Whiffin, 81, bumped into a former colleague, May, who he worked with in the 1970s, last year.
The pair talked for an hour and when they said goodbye, May asked Len for a kiss – but he said no because he was “too shy”.
Len, from Sheffield, South Yorks, said: “It’s something I regret.”
He has contacted local care homes, but they have been unable to help due to data protection rules.
Age UK Sheffield are now helping Len, and said: “If enough people see his story, someone may know who May is and help put them back in touch.”
GRANDMOTHER Bev Dixon is celebrating a £1million lottery win with a right old knees-up… by having both of them replaced.
The 50-year-old pub landlady and 43-year-old husband Malcolm matched five numbers and the bonus ball to scoop the life-changing sum.
Malcolm, who gave up work as a building engineer before Christmas because of arthritis in both ankles, said: “Bev is in constant pain so it will be the first big spend. We need to be healthy to enjoy the win. She has been waiting five years on the NHS and now we have the money to do something about it.
“They can’t do anything about my ankles but manage the pain, but they can do something for Bev. I never thought I would win big because I once thought I had won £275,000 when my numbers came up – only to find my mother didn’t put the ticket on because the queue at Asda was too big.
“I was convinced I had missed my chance.” Bev, who ran the Railway Tavern in Leigh, Greater Manchester until just after the win on January 29, said: “I need to get my knees done, I need an operation, they are knackered. I was still so shaky that morning from the win that I told Malcolm I needed a brandy at 10am to calm down. I don’t even drink brandy!”
She revealed she had opened the pub the day after the win with free drinks all day and added: “The regulars were over the moon for us. What has happened is beyond belief.
“I wake up every morning and can’t believe we have no more money troubles.
“The money also means we can help our kids have a better life.”
Malcolm, who bought two lucky dips for the draw, revealed he was walking the couple’s dogs when he checked the National Lottery numbers and realised he had won CHEERS! Bev and
Malcolm celebrate
BEV DIXON LANDLADY AND LOTTERY WINNER
– but first thought he had won just £1,000. He added: “I thought there were too many noughts so I checked again and realised it was £1million.”
The win also means the couple, originally from Bolton, who have 13 grandchildren, no longer need to rent accommodation and can buy a dream home near their three children. Malcolm added: “We’ve got each other, we’ve got our family, we just needed somewhere that was ours. When we’ve got that, what else do we need in life?”
I needed a brandy at 10am... I don’t even drink it!