Dead lucky! Punter’s unusual purchase after £75,000 win
DAD WHO SCOOPED BUMPER PAYOUT FROM £1 WAGER PAYS FOR HIS FUNERAL
WHEN Dave Hesketh won £75,000 from a £1 bet his thoughts did not turn to a luxury holiday, new home, or splashing the cash on a car.
Instead it means he is making plans ... for his funeral.
Within two days of hitting the jackpot he called in at his local undertakers.
Dave, a 58-year-old divorced father-oftwo, from Wigan, said: “I think it’s important that your arrangements are in place so my family don’t have any mither when I die... and I’m sorting out my will while I’m at it because that is costly too.
“It’s great that I’m now in a position to do these things. It is a great weight off my mind. I have already got the details and there are different prices for your funeral. I have chosen the mid-range one for £3,500 although you can pay £4,000.”
David, who works as a minibus driver ferrying autistic children from the Leigh to Rowan Tree School in Atherton, stresses he’s in ‘fine fettle’ and doesn’t hope to see his investment being needed any time soon.
“I would not say I’m fit as a fiddle but don’t suffer from anything in particular. I would say I’m averagely healthy”, he adds.
David, from Hindley Green, picked three numbers – 27, 42 and 35 – in the Irish Lotto Betfred bonus ball game at the bookies where he’s a regular near his home, and they were all drawn.” David went on: “The numbers just jumped out at me when I was at Betfreds. I didn’t feel lucky or anything like that but thought for just £1 I would go on numbers I had never used before.
“I celebrated by playing pool like I usually do and had a drink with the lads. I have given £10,000 to my daughter and she’s using it to buy new windows and doors at her house – and £10,000 for my son who needs it for a downpayment on a house.
“What am I going to do with the rest? Well I live in a council flat so don’t need or want to move and as for holidays well I’m not one for sunbathing. I like the shade to be honest. There is no country in particular that I’d like to visit.
“I only have to drive a mile or so to work so don’t need a new car although a small greener one so you pay less is something I am considering.”
After winning £75,000 on the Betfred Bonus Ball Lotto, David was entitled to go for a one-off chance to be a millionaire... by picking the correct bonus ball in the Irish Lotto main draw.
David, a taxi driver for 20 years before qualifying as a minibus driver, said: “I went for number 17 and it was number 37. I’d have been happy to be a millionaire of course but I suppose I’d have still not known how to spend it!”
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “If he had emptied my pockets of a cool million rather than a very tidy £75,000 he could have booked Westminster Abbey for his funeral!
“David’s obviously a fine northern character who is putting his family first. Next time I’m in Wigan we’ll meet up and share a pie ... or even push the boat out and get one each!” Dave Hesketh