Could this be one of the luckiest families in the UK? Peter and Mary Fry, along with heir three daughters, Margaret, Janet and Isobel, cashed in a £1 million courtesy of the Lotto Millionaire Raffle.
This is the third win their family has managed in six years.
Peter’s cousin, Annette Brown was the first in the family to scoop a big jackpot in 2010. She became the UK’s 2500th National Lottery millionaire after winning an impressive £1 151 496.Then in 2015 their daughter, Margaret won a very respectable £20 000 on the Lotto Millionaire raffle.
They play as a family, each taking five lines. And it certainly seems that the family who plays together, wins together. Peter is already 90 years old and his wife, Mary is 86, so this money is bound to help the couple enjoy the rest of their retirement in comfort. It offers them the chance to buy their home and do some alterations that will make it easier for Mary to get around.
Peter and his family weren’t even aware that they had won such a big jackpot. After the draw which took place on the 18th of May, Peter popped in to the local Tesco to have his tickets checked. That’s when the till operator told him he’d won ‘a wee bit of money’. But he didn’t think too much of it and returned home to his wife.
Their daughter Mary came round and together they phoned Camelot (the national lottery operator). They confirmed all the details and were then told just how much they’d won. It was a bit of a surprise for all of them, especially Mary.
The couple have already have six grandchildren and are currently expecting their sixth great-grandchild. They’re looking forward to using the money to take care of their family. While it took a while for the news to sink in, it’s clear that this family is most deserving of the extraordinary luck that has come their way.
But does this recent win really make them the luckiest family in the UK? They haven’t won the biggest prize as that title is currently held by Colin and Chris Weir who had a massive £161 million EuroMillion jackpot win in 2011. And there are a few others who have managed multiple jackpot wins.
Take David and Kathleen Long, for example. In 2013 they won £1 million and then did it again in 2015 where they also bagged a car. The couple tied the knot after their first win and then treated themselves to a honeymoon after the second win.
Stuart Powell, a lorry driver from Staffordshire also won two jackpots. The first was a modest £55 000 in 2011 and then £1 million just four years later.
Jean and Alan Slater went one better and won twice in the same draw – with the same numbers! That happened in 2015 when they each bought a ticket and both won a respectable £300 000.
Why do we love stories like this? It’s because they kindle the little flame of hope that lies within every lottery player. It may seem as if the odds of winning a jackpot are against you, but when you hear of people who are so lucky they win more than one jackpot, it makes you more determined to keep trying.
Lotteries such as the US Powerball and EuroMillions really do have the power to change lives. And when that happens to ordinary people such as the Fry’s, it restores your faith in humanity a little bit. So often we only hear about jackpot winners who go on to squander their cash or land themselves in a heap of trouble. This just fans of the flames of those who believe playing the lottery is a waste of time and money.
But as Peter and Mary Fry have proved (with many others too), that isn’t always the case. There are hundreds of people out there who win large and small jackpots and go on to live normal lives. While they may be able to treat themselves and their families a bit, it doesn’t always have to end in disaster.
What’s so touching about this story in particular is the fact that the family play together. It’s a little bit of innocent fun but it has bonded them together through the years and resulted in a big payoff. Could there be a lesson for all of us in this? If there is, it’s probably that it doesn’t hurt to dream a little and do the things that make you happy. Although Peter and Mary Fry have won this lottery quite late in life, it only seems to have added to their happiness. They have a lovely and loving family and really deserve their big win.
