Thrilled lottery winners share how they spent jackpot and unusual first purchase

16 August 2023 , 17:53

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Rob and Ruth in Florence

Ruth Giblin could not believe her eyes when her lottery numbers came up, so the first thing she bought was new specs.

Ruth and husband Rob scooped £1million in a special Euromillions draw in July last year. Since then, they have taken their 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter on their first flights, to Italy, paid off their mortgage, visited London and treated themselves to their first dog – a miniature schnauzer called Rohan.

But Ruth, 45, started off with a more mundane purchase. She said: “I am a practical person – the first thing I bought was an eye test and glasses.” Trying to sum up the couple’s first year as millionaires, Ruth said: “I do still have pinch myself moments and some days I go back to when we couldn’t afford much. I remember not wanting to pay for a gondola trip in Venice because it was €80. It seemed a bit of a rip-off.”

Couple with cheque (SWNS)

Toasting their win (SWNS)

Ruth still works as a leisure centre supervisor in Telford, Shrops, while Rob, 49, quit his engineering job but is now training as a teaching assistant. Rob said: “I had the car serviced and needed new tyres; I told them to carry on. Last year, I would have been in bits. The relief the win has given us is amazing. Without it, I’d have stayed in my job until I retired, never trying anything else.”

Ruth is spending some of her winnings on an extension for her parents, who live on the same street. She added: “They look after my sister, who has additional needs, so an extension will mean everyone has more space. I can treat the kids and they can look forward to holidays, something we’ve never been able to do for them.”

Shoppers can bag 10 lottery tickets for £1 ahead of Friday's Millionaire Maker

Pair in Venice

Their journey as National Lottery millionaires is all being documented by Ruth. She said: “I have my ‘Lottery Box’, containing every moment of our journey. From postcards of our travels to tube tickets in London. I look through it and see all the things we’ve been able to do so far, all the firsts for our family, all after our lucky win last year.”

Ruth was one of 22 millionaires made in a special EuroMillions draw on Friday, 22 July 2022.

Martin Fricker