A £1million lottery winner has credited his late father for his success after selecting his birthday and date of death as the lucky numbers.
Darren McGuire, 46, from Bolton, discovered his incredible win just before heading off on a family holiday to Cornwall. He admits the rest of the week was ‘basically just a blur’.
The gas engineer said: ‘[Dad’s] date of birth (22.03.48) and the date of his passing (21.09.11) made us millionaires – thank you Dad.’
He added that the life-changing windfall was also foreshadowed by two roses in their garden that had suddenly bloomed that morning – after four years of doing nothing.
‘The very morning of the draw, two rose bushes in our garden that have done absolutely nothing for over four years, suddenly bloomed to produce a perfect red rose.
‘To me, it was a sign from Dad that this was the day – and it certainly was. It’s mad.’
Darren said he would use his new riches to work better hours, as he often works seven days a week.
He and his partner Laura Waites, who have been together nearly 20 years, also wish to finally tie the knot.
The 46-year-old said: ‘We were going to get married years ago, then Laura fell pregnant and we moved house.
‘I also regularly work seven days a week as a gas engineer for a housing association in Bolton – a job I love – so with all that we never got around to tying the knot.
‘However, with this win under our belts we’re hoping to get married in real style sometime soon.’
At some point in the future, Darren may start his own business, but he’s in no rush. He says he and Laura are just normal people; they’re not in any way ‘flash’.
The couple have already treated themselves to a new car, a Volvo CX90, replacing the ‘bone rattler’ that Laura admits she hated.
Meanwhile, their two children have a few requests of their own.
‘One has asked for a PlayStation 5 and the other fancies going on a shopping spree for clothes and trainers. We’ll see what we can do!’, said Laura, who works as a receptionist.
She added: ‘We love our house, the area we already live in and the people in it. We will be looking to build an extension and expand into the roof to give the whole family more room.
‘We also want to convert the cellar into a bar and party room. We like a party and we will definitely be celebrating the win, several times over I should think!’
A week-long holiday in Spain is also on the cards, where the pair will use the time ‘to make some plans and decisions about the future’.
