The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
£71m winner plans spending spree
A factory worker has quit his job and is planning a spending spree after insisting his £71 million EuroMillions jackpot win will change his life.
Ade Goodchild, 58, from Hereford, has his eye on a new house with a jacuzzi, “a few staff” and dream holidays to the Grand Canyon and the Giza pyramids.
After going public with his win yesterday, he said: “I’m not one of these winners who is going to say this win won’t change me. It bloody well will, or at least I’ll give it a damn good go.
“There’ll be no more shift work for me. I want to travel, find myself a lovely new home, go to top sporting events, and try many other things besides.”
Mr Goodchild, who is handing in his notice after working for more than 24 years at a metal factory in Hereford, will spend some of his windfall on his family, who are originally from South Wales.
He said: “I am an only child and my parents have always been there for me. Like all parents, they worry about my mortgage, bills and how long I will have to work for. I’ve told my parents they can stop saving now and spend my inheritance.”
He celebrated his win on Saturday by watching the Wales v Ireland rugby match with his parents, with a takeaway pizza, spicy chicken wings and beer.
He said: “I don’t normally check my ticket until Monday but I had an urge early Saturday morning and decided to scan my ticket on the National Lottery app. I thought I might have won a fiver or something.
“But when I checked I thought hang on, it looks like I’ve won £71,000. I put my glasses on to double check, and then spotted that it was the jackpot prize and that all my numbers were circled. I thought wow, a lot of people have shared the jackpot this week but fair play.
“Then I read the prize amount again and realised that it was actually £71 million and just one winner – me. It was then that I called my mum and dad. Their reaction was one of complete shock.”
He bought his winning ticket from the Co-op on Ledbury Road in Hereford.
The winning numbers from the draw on Friday March 15 were 3, 15, 24, 42, 46, and Lucky Stars 9 and 12.