November 14th 2024.
As the National Lottery celebrates its 30th birthday, they decided to mark the occasion with a special photoshoot featuring thirty of their lucky millionaires from all across the UK. It's hard to believe that it's been exactly thirty years since the first tickets went on sale on November 14, 1994. And since then, the lottery has made dreams come true for countless individuals, transforming them into millionaires overnight.
To capture the essence of this momentous occasion, celebrity photographer Rankin was brought on board. Known for his iconic portraits of celebrities like Queen Elizabeth II and the Rolling Stones, Rankin gathered thirty of the estimated 7,400 millionaires that the lottery has created since its inception. Among the group were Lesley Higgins from Aberdeenshire and Gareth Bull from Mansfield, who each won over £40 million on EuroMillions.
But the lineup was not just limited to EuroMillions winners. The group also included major Lotto winners like Jackie King from Grimsby, who won £14 million in 1998, and Sarah Cockings from Whitley Bay, who took home £3 million back in 2005. And let's not forget Peter Congdon from Truro, who struck gold with a £13.5 million win in 2015. It's safe to say that these winners came from all walks of life, with ages ranging from 25 to 80 years old.
As the winners gathered from far and wide for the photoshoot, it was evident that the lottery had truly changed their lives. Rankin summed it up perfectly, saying, "They are normal people who have had an extraordinary thing happen to them, transforming their lives. That is what we set out to capture."
Sarah Cockings, who won a life-changing £3,045,705 in 2005, shared her story of how the lottery had impacted her life. With the winnings, she was able to finish her degree, buy her own home, and start a family of four. And while some may remember her for paying for her sisters' boob jobs, Sarah remains close to her family, with all of them living just a few minutes away from each other.
Representing the 2014 winners was Matt Myles from Herefordshire, who at the young age of 27, quit his job and embarked on a year-long trip around the world thanks to his £1,000,000 win. Reflecting on his incredible journey, Matt said, "It was a crazy year and I have the best memories. I picked up my winnings and flew straight to Bali, then on to Thailand, Brazil for the World Cup, which was unbelievable, then on to Ibiza on a mega holiday with 13 mates." These days, Matt's life revolves around his family, and he runs his own successful car business. And as a reminder of his lucky break, he keeps his giant cheque hanging in his shed above his ride-on mower.
Since its inception, the National Lottery has given out over £95 billion in prizes and raised an additional £49 billion to support thousands of charities. And as the winners gathered for the photoshoot, it was clear that they were grateful for the life-changing opportunities that the lottery had provided them with. As they smiled for the camera, it was evident that their lives had been forever transformed thanks to the National Lottery.
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