Britain's record lottery winners go public

Jul 15, 2011, 8:40 pm (109 comments)

Euro Millions

Includes video report

A Scottish couple out of work due to ill health are Europe's biggest ever lottery winners, scooping £161.5 million (€184 million, or US$260.5 million) in the EuroMillions multi-country lottery game.

Colin Weir, 64, and his wife Chris, 55, who have been married for 30 years and live in the seaside town of Largs near Glasgow, claimed the prize after Tuesday's draw which followed a series of rollovers.

The prize catapaulted them into 430th place in this year's Sunday Times Rich List for Britain.

"We were tickled pink," Chris Weir, a former psychiatric nurse, said as the couple faced the press for the first time after waiving their right to anonymity.

"I even had a glass of white wine, which is something I normally only do at Christmas. It really is unbelievable."

Colin Weir, a former TV cameraman and studio manager, appeared slightly dazed by the attention.

"When we first realized we had won, it felt like a dream. But it feels like a good thing; something we should not be afraid of but for us to enjoy with the children," he said.

The Weirs said they will buy homes for their daughter Carly, 24, a photography student, and their son Jamie, 22, who works in a call center. Their children will also take their first driving lessons, they said.

They said they wanted to see the Great Wall of China and Uluru, as well as art galleries in Paris and Russia, while Colin, a fan of Spanish football, hopes to see Barcelona play from a personal box at the Camp Nou stadium.

The Weirs said they have both had several serious health conditions in recent years and have been unable to work.

Colin Weir suffered a leg injury and rheumatoid arthritis while Chris Weir worked in nursing for 37 years before quitting three years ago due to poor health.

The couple said they would have preferred not to go public but did not think they could keep their win secret, although they said they hoped their new-found wealth would not change them.  They also said they would not be able to enjoy the win as fully by keeping it a secret.

"We are not flashy people," she said. Her husband added, "With wealth comes great responsibility."

The previous British record jackpot holder, who won €129 million (US$182.6 million) in October last year, chose to remain anonymous.

The EuroMillions lottery, launched in 2004, is now played in eleven countries across western Europe: Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

VIDEO: Watch the report

Herald Sun, Channel 4 News, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

rukiafae's avatarrukiafae

Happy for the couple, hope they are able to manage that kind of wealth and have it last for a long LONG time! :)

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I hope the decisions they make from now on are better than the one deciding to go public and giving out their kids names and all that.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

I Agree!  Ridge, it's one thing if the winner goes public even though the last winner remained anonymous but now you put your children at risk.

CashWinner$

CONGRATULATIONS!!   PartyBEST WISHES!!

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Oh well ................................. I guess it takes all kinds .......................................

Hit With Stick

redhot7's avatarredhot7

They now have the money to afford any sort of medical care to cure their poor health.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by redhot7 on Jul 15, 2011

They now have the money to afford any sort of medical care to cure their poor health.

I agree, in the UK with its government-run healthcare system, their care was probably not all that great.  They make people wait for months just for basic treatments, and the government can decide not to give treatment if they decide it's too expensive.

eddessaknight's avatareddessaknight

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 15, 2011

I agree, in the UK with its government-run healthcare system, their care was probably not all that great.  They make people wait for months just for basic treatments, and the government can decide not to give treatment if they decide it's too expensive.

Righto Todd,

Well then. now the Lucky Scoties can afford to follow others from the UK to the USA and get necessary medical treatments on time.

EddessaKnight Note 

fwlawrence's avatarfwlawrence

The children are 22 and 24 and taking their first driving lessons?

myturn's avatarmyturn

Quote: Originally posted by redhot7 on Jul 15, 2011

They now have the money to afford any sort of medical care to cure their poor health.

Perhaps they should shell out and join Jenny Craig?

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

hey i guess they figure may as well go public, wouldnt be long till some scummy newspaper bought their identity off of  a public sevant  anyhow.

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 15, 2011

I agree, in the UK with its government-run healthcare system, their care was probably not all that great.  They make people wait for months just for basic treatments, and the government can decide not to give treatment if they decide it's too expensive.

Coming soon to America..Government run healthcare, we are doomed.

 

Congrats to the winners, enjoy.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Roll Eyes fast forward three and a half years later.........broke & wishing they had kept thar mouths shut No Pity!

redhot7's avatarredhot7

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jul 15, 2011

I agree, in the UK with its government-run healthcare system, their care was probably not all that great.  They make people wait for months just for basic treatments, and the government can decide not to give treatment if they decide it's too expensive.

Well, if you are too poor in America, you don't get any medical treatment at all. No money, no treatment. America has the best health care in the world BUT only if you can afford it.

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