Record EuroMillions winners in hiding after begging avalanche

Jul 18, 2011, 11:41 am (64 comments)

Euro Millions

It would be hard not to see this coming.

The Scottish couple who won £161 million in the EuroMillions lottery were in hiding yesterday — apparently meeting with their family to decide what to do with their astonishing windfall after receiving an avalanche of begging requests for money.

Neighbors of Colin and Chris Weir in the Scottish west coast town of Largs, Ayrshire, said they were having a heart-to-heart with their children, Carly, 24, and Jamie, 22.

It was suggested the lucky winners had flown out to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands after being inundated by people scrounging for money.

But others sources claimed Colin, 64, and Chris, 55, were in hiding in the Scottish Highlands with representatives from lottery company Camelot.

One local said, "We have not seen them since they were on the TV. No one knows for sure where they are but they mentioned needing time to chat about their win with their family

"Yet where would you go if you had all that money when your faces had been all over the papers and the TV?

"They are reported to have flown out of Glasgow en route to Lanzarote — but other people claim they are with the Camelot people. One thing is for sure though, they will have to come back here soon."

Royal Mail staff have already reported receiving hundreds of begging letters from people from across the UK simply addressed to "The Weirs, Largs".

The curtains have been drawn at their £180,000 home and their two cars were left parked in the driveway.

The couple realized late on Tuesday that they had won the EuroMillions jackpot, which had rolled over 14 times. They stayed up all night waiting to talk to lottery officials.

Colin and Chris decided to go public because they did not want to lie to friends and family. But as soon as they revealed their identities, the demands for money came flooding in.

Their neighbors still cannot believe they revealed themselves.

Retired taxi firm boss David Simpson, 82, said, "They are a lovely couple who have been great neighbors of mine for 25 years — but why on earth have they let the cat out of the bag?

"If they wanted to stay here in this street, they should have just kept quiet. Nobody had to know. Colin is a funny chap, he hardly ever goes out. He's a home bird. I can't even see him ever spending much of the money.

"But it's hard to believe he and his wife can even contemplate staying here now everyone knows they have got £161 million in the bank. They'll get pestered to death."

There was even a cheeky request from the vice-president of Colin's local football club [soccer team, for Americans], Largs Thistle. He suggested donating money to the club so they could clear their £5,000 debt and make offers for Argentinian superstars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez.

Jim McGinty said, "A new stand would be lovely. We could name it the Colin Weir Stand — and he could have the No 1 spot in the car park.

"He could afford to buy Messi and Tevez — that would really bring in the crowds. We wish Colin and Christine all the very best."

Mr Weir hopes to buy a private box at Barcelona's stadium and Mrs Weir intends to go traveling and fly "at least business class".

Daily Express

Comments

Trillionaire

There's a lot to be said for keeping your huge lottey win as quiet as possible. Tell no one. Trust no one.

rukiafae's avatarrukiafae

Quote: Originally posted by Trillionaire on Jul 18, 2011

There's a lot to be said for keeping your huge lottey win as quiet as possible. Tell no one. Trust no one.

especially when you have the option to do so.

 

i wish them the best of luck....

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Well, the time they should have spent making decisions can now be added to the time they'll spend regretting the ones they made.

I just don't understand why they had to blurt everything out immediately.

I just hope the parasites who think they're entitled to some of their wealth don't drive them to an early grave with their begging.

We have our own problems with people (libs) who think they're entitled to other people's money in this country, so we can relate.

rukiafae's avatarrukiafae

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jul 18, 2011

Well, the time they should have spent making decisions can now be added to the time they'll spend regretting the ones they made.

I just don't understand why they had to blurt everything out immediately.

I just hope the parasites who think they're entitled to some of their wealth don't drive them to an early grave with their begging.

We have our own problems with people (libs) who think they're entitled to other people's money in this country, so we can relate.

amen to all of the above...

hsvscubaski

They can alwayes say go to hell

GamerMom's avatarGamerMom

Quote: Originally posted by hsvscubaski on Jul 18, 2011

They can alwayes say go to hell

or talk to my lawyer.

 

As florida has no option of remaining anonymous I thought that would be the best thing to do was to say my lawyer and accountants have everything figured out to where I have a comfortable monthly allowance and no access to extra cash flow.

HoLeeKau's avatarHoLeeKau

They didn't have to lie to their friends and family.  They could have told them, and even if they in turn spilled it to a few people, that would be a far cry from all the begging letters from strangers far and wide that they attracted by putting it in the media.  Methinks they should have thought about this for just a few more days.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Lurkingwell the most important lesson has now been learned and thar paying the piper for thar mistake

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Wow!!! they should of listen to the last winner he advised them to remain

anonymous....

"Meanwhile, a man who won £26.1m in a family syndicate in January 2010, has urged the Euromillions winner to stay anonymous."

 

"George Sturt, 77, who split the money four ways with his three children, said he had had hundreds of begging letters since he went public and regrets doing so now."

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/234047

RJOh's avatarRJOh

They can always change their address to "unknown" that way the local postal service can stamp their mail

"return to sender, address unknown"

time*treat's avatartime*treat

Royal Mail staff have already reported receiving hundreds of begging letters from people from across the UK simply addressed to "The Weirs, Largs".

That's just rude. Hit With Stick

thegrrrr8est

How bizarre.  You don't see people crowding Donald Trump begging for money. Or Oprah. Or ANY other wealthy person.  I've got relatives who are millionaires and it wouldn't occur to me to ask them for money. 

When I play the lottery and friends ask if I'll split it with them if I win, I always answer -- only a little tongue-in-cheek -- "No way. When I hit the lottery I'm dumping you losers and getting me some new friends who aren't such mooches."

lucki*11

Lucki*11 of Oceanside, CA has a question:  Concerning "Fantasy 5" and "Mega Millions", where can one find a table of info where it gives them the breakdown of various

possible wins? Example: Fantasy 5 has five numbers; one number out of the possible five, pays how much? Two out of the possible five, pays how much? Three out of

the possible five, pays how much? ... and so on.  Is there any such table of information?  "Thanks" in advance to the one who answers my question and good luck 2U!  Lucki*11Sun Smiley

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Who could'a seen this coming ........................

................ I mean .......................................

it'a not like there have been stories like this before .......................

Crazy

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