Merseyside’s biggest National Lottery winners as draw turns 30

The Loto is 30 years old today

It’s been exactly 30 years since the first Lotto draw was broadcast, and in that time some of the UK’s biggest winners have ended up right here on Merseyside.

Since the first draw on 19 November 1994, the National Lottery has raised more than £49 billion for good causes and awarded more than 690,000 individual grants to projects and organisations. And that’s not to mention all the lucky winners he’s made over the years.

Winning the lottery would be a dream for many people. There are so many things you can do with a life-changing amount of money, whether you quit your job and spend the money or save it for a rainy day.

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But for some, this dream has come true. The ECHO previously reported that Freddy Powell, from Crosby, was Merseyside’s first winner when he won £1.35 million in April 1995.

In April 1996, West Derby’s Mark English earned £4.2 million by quitting his job as a part-time steward at Liverpool FC and factory worker at Stoves in Prescot. But it was David Ashcroft, a carpenter from Mossley Hill, who became the area’s biggest winner, after scooping a £12.3 million jackpot in 1997.

And the winners continued over the years. Here are some of the biggest winners in our region.

Ben and Leanne Woods, £2.4 million, Lotto, 2004, from Wirral

Ben Woods, from Rock Ferry, raised £2,485,736 thanks to a lucky ticket his mother bought him in 2004 when he was 23. After a few years traveling abroad, the former Merseyrail employee settled “into a normal life” just three miles away. road to his family home.

Mystery winner

A Mystery Lotto winner, known only as Mr A from Merseyside, became a millionaire without ever touching a ticket. The lucky winner was one of two jackpot winners in the draw and took home a staggering £1,942,659.

Tony Dodd, £2.4 million Lotto, 2007, from Wirral

Tony Dodd from Wirral has won the £2.4 million Lotto jackpot at the age of 67. He celebrated his victory by undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Emma Cartwright, £6.5million EuroMillions syndicate in 2009

In 2009, a syndicate of seven raised £45,570,835.50. The winners, dubbed the Magnificent Seven, all worked for Hewlett Packard and did IT work at a BT office in Liverpool.

The syndicate included John Walsh, 57, James Bennett, 28, Sean Connor, 32, Alex Parry, 19, Emma Cartwright, 23, Ceri Scullion, 35, and Donna Rhodes, 39, who bagged 6, £5 million each.

George and Beryl Keates, £3.5 million Lotto, 2012, from Southport

George and Beryl Keates from Southport won a National Lottery jackpot of more than £3.5million in their 10th draw attempt in 2012.

Kirkby workers

A group of ten A4e workers in Kirkby scooped £28 million in a EuroMillions draw in July 2013. Bosses then had to frantically try to find replacements afterwards as they all immediately left their job.

Jason and Kelly Massey, £1 million on EuroMillions, in 2013, from Runcorn

Kelly married her long-term partner Jason after dreaming of a lavish wedding. She also left her job as a cabin crew member for easyJet.

Julie Phillips, a syndicate member who won £1.7 million on the Lotto, from Warrington, in 2014

The syndicate of six, all former work colleagues and long-time Warrington Wolves rugby league fans, took home a whopping £1,758,997. But it wasn’t until one of the union members happened to check their lottery ticket that they learned of their new fortune.

Ruth Breen, £1 million EuroMillions winner in 2014, from Wigan

According to the Mirror, Ruth Breen was “doing well” before her huge win. She “couldn’t believe her eyes” when she logged into her account.

John and Patricia Gill, £1 million on EuroMillions on Christmas Day 2015 from Warrington

The father from Warrington bought a Christmas Day lottery ticket just an hour before the draw and won a £1 million fortune. He initially thought he had only won £100.

Kevin and Michele Jones, £6 million lotto jackpot, 2016, from Crewe

The bus driver won £6.1 million in the lottery and went to buy two Everton season tickets. Mr Jones, from Crewe, found out he had won while stuck in the morning rush hour in the cabin of his bus.

Mal Duggan, £1 million Lotto, from Widnes in December 2023

Mal only found out he had won £1million in the National Lottery when his father called to tell him.

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