New arrival Poppy put celebrations on hold for £1m lottery winners
A COUPLE who won £1m on a lottery draw had to put their celebrations on hold for the arrival of their baby daughter.
Andrew Symes and Natalie Metcalf discovered they had scooped the EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker prize the night after it was drawn on February 1.
But all thoughts of their win were pushed out their heads the next day when 37-year-old Ms Metcalf, from Thornbury, near Bristol, had her first labour pains.
Their daughter, Poppy, was born on February 5, and the couple, who already have a twoyear-old son, were finally able to collect their winnings.
They disclosed yesterday that they were planning to use the cash to buy their own home and have a dream wedding.
Mr Symes, 40, who works for a pensions firm, said: “This win couldn’t have come at a better time. We have our beautiful children and now we can get married and buy a perfect house to raise them in.
“As well as feeling so happy about the safe arrival of our baby girl, we just feel so relaxed.
We’ll be able to buy a home and not even have to worry about a mortgage. To not have to think about that additional cost every month is almost a second windfall in itself.”
After discovering on February 2 that they had won the prize, the couple phoned Camelot and
arranged an appointment for a winners’ adviser to meet them to organise the pay-out for the following Tuesday.
However, the couple, who do not own their current home, were out viewing properties the following day when Ms Metcalf had her first labour pains.
After Poppy’s birth, which was an hour before their initial appointment with a winners’ adviser, the couple were able to reschedule the appointment and have since collected their £1m prize. They have also resumed the search for their “perfect house” and are now planning their wedding.
We’ll be able to buy a home and not worry about a mortgage. Euromillions £1m winners Andrew Symes and Natalie Metcalf