Cha-cha-changes in store for Terri as she waltzes off with £1million lotto win
DANCER AND HUSBAND PLANNING QUICKSTEP DOWN TO SAVILE ROW
AN award-winning competition dancer has waltzed off with a £1 million win on the National Lottery.
Theresa Picton-Clark and her husband John enjoyed five bottles of champagne and a victory dance around their living room after buying a £2 lucky dip ticket at a petrol station in Lutterworth.
Sixty-nine-year-old Theresa, known as Terri, and John, 67, were on their way to look at a new kitchen when they stopped at the Walcote Service Station, in Lutterworth Road,
The couple, who live in the south of the county, bought the ticket but did not check it until two days later.
On Monday, they found out they had struck it lucky in the Lotto draw for Saturday, January 9.
The couple have wasted no time sharing their good fortune with others, buying laptops for friends and family who are home-schooling.
Plans for the future include a trip to Antarctica for a holiday of a lifetime and a quickstep down to Savile Row for a new suit.
But, first on the list are a new dress and dancing shoes ready for when Terri can hit the dance floor again.
“On our way to our kitchen appointment, we stopped off to get some petrol and John bought a lottery ticket,” said Terri. “It turned out to be one of those days, I was trying to get 0 per cent interest for the kitchen we wanted and the bank was being difficult, and I ended up just crying in despair.
“John said to me, ‘you never know we might win the lottery.’
“On Monday, while John was out, he popped in to the shop to check the ticket and the cashier said, ‘you are going to have to call Camelot, you’ve won too much money.’
“I was working on a Zoom call when John came in waving the ticket about. Once I’d finished I found out exactly what was up with him. We called Camelot and John said to me, ‘if it is what I think it is, I’ve already spent it.’
“We were thinking it was around £50,000 and when Camelot confirmed it was £1,000,000, John was very calm (as usual) and I was the one jumping up and down.”
Terri and John opened a bottle of champagne at 2.30pm that day to celebrate.
Terri said: “The neighbours could see us jumping up and down, dancing and celebrating and asked us what we were doing.
“We told them and they ended up celebrating with us, socially distanced from our respective front gardens. Five bottles later and John didn’t get up until 3pm the next day.”
Having suffered with ill health over the years, both Terri and John having had strokes within a few years of each other, the win is welldeserved for the generous couple, who have already helped friends and family with their new-found fortune.
“We’ve helped friends who are home-schooling their children – we bought another laptop for them to make things a little easier and we bought one for my grandchild to help my son.
“To be able to tell friends who have always been there for you that you can help them feels amazing.”
Terri added: “John gave the shop assistant at the garage, who sold him the ticket, £100 and said to her, ‘make sure you don’t do anything sensible with the money.’”
Terri and John are now making plans for the future.
“John wants to go to Antarctica. There is also talk of a ski trip with the grandkids.
“I would love to go again, if I can still do it. John has never been on a winter holiday.
“My son is really pleased for us, as we can now have the retirement we always dreamed of and don’t need to worry about watching the pennies. We have always had pennypinching holidays – even our wedding, a-year-and-a-half ago was on a budget.
“We are looking at a new house, with more space. And we want to get a new car each – a sensible one and a sporty one.
“I would love to revamp my wardrobe. John has said he will take me to
Savile Row to get a new tailored suit with a matching skirt to wear in all seasons. I also want to buy a dress and dancing shoes, for when I can dance again.”
Terri is an amateur ballroom and Latin dancer and has competed in many competitions. She is the only ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance) member who has won five ballroom and two Latin titles, retiring undefeated in ballroom.