Lottery winner too busy to spend it

Aug 24, 2004, 8:35 am (4 comments)

UK National Lottery

A former Welsh newspaper editor who left her job after winning £8.5m (US$15.3 million) on the national lottery revealed yesterday that she hasn't spent a penny of it yet.

Farmer's wife Pat Griffiths, 48, who was in charge of the Abergavenny Chronicle until her win seven months ago, said she had been too busy working on the family farm to go on a spending spree.

The family bought two modest VW Golf cars out of the £300,000 interest her win has earned, but Mrs Griffiths hasn't touched her nest-egg fortune.

She and husband Roger, 49, still live in their four-bedroom detached house on their 148-acre cattle and sheep farm.

Pat, who has two sons at college, is sticking by her vow not to move from her farm, saying, "This is my paradise on earth."

She admitted there's been no big spending spree, adding, "We haven't done any of that yet.

"We are still talking with advisers about the best way to deal with the win."

One of her friends said, "The win couldn't have gone to a more deserving family, but they won't go splashing out.

"They are very sensible couple who have had to struggle really hard to make the farm work.

"Pat had to go back to work on the local paper to supplement the family income.

"They have always had to manage their finances well and it's typical of them that they have not rushed to splash out.

"They want nothing more than to keep a low profile and just carry on in the work they love and making the farm a success.

"Luxury for Pat is not having to get up every day to go to the office."

Pat provided the Chronicle's biggest-ever scoop when she went to work and told staff, "I'm a millionairess."

The win came at just the right time for Pat because their farm deep in the Monmouthshire countryside was badly hit during the foot-and-mouth outbreak. The situation was so desperate that Pat and Roger feared they would have to sell up.

Pat said after becoming a multi-millionairess, "Now we can look forward to investing in the farm's future and the farm will have everything it has ever needed.

"We don't want to move because we already live in paradise. It is the real good life."

Western Mail

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Lurk More N00b's avatarLurk More N00b

I love these stories about people winning that need the money and can put it to good use. I've come to call them the "Anti-Jack" stories.

CASH Only

That much money is hard to spend all at once.

Jani Norman's avatarJani Norman

That's one problem I woul

CASH Only

I would too.

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