More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
This week one lucky lottery player pocketed a record £170 million after waiting months to claim the Euromillions jackpot.
So we've looked back at the big winners in Kent who saw lady luck shine on them in everything from the lottery and horses, to bingo and the Pools....
£1 million - Lotto Millionaire Raffle
Hitting the jackpot couldn't have come at a better time for Folkestone couple Alan and Marjorie Tyrie in January 2016.
Because just weeks before their £1 million win on the Lotto Millionaire Raffle, Alan had been made redundant from his job as a welder.
They celebrated in style with a nice cup of tea.
Marjorie said: “We are going to take our time planning our future. This year may have started a little rocky, but my gosh, it soon picked up.”
£574,278.41 from £1 - Football accumulator
A mystery mum from the Isle of Sheppey landed more than half-a-million pounds from a £1 football bet.
The 59-year-old, who chose to remain anonymous, beat the bookies with a 12-team accumulator which netted £574,278.41.
She placed the bet at the William Hill branch in Leysdown in November 2017.
Shop manager Carli Faulkner said: "This is the biggest win I have ever handled and all for just a quid.
"It is incredible that the woman got them all up. This just goes to show it can happen."
£1,453,240 (split between eight people) - People's Postcode Lottery
Eight neighbours in the same street in Dartford pocketed almost £1.5 million between them in the Postcode Lottery in August this year.
Seven winners were handed cheques for £181,655, while the eighth - who had two tickets - scooped £363,310.
Kerry Ferguson, 34, was heavily pregnant at the time of her "life-changing" win.
"I’ve been on minimum wage since going part-time with my daughter, and now I can go on maternity leave and not have to worry about money," she said.
Lucky neighbour Rob Young added: "Never in a million years did we ever think we’d this amount of money. I feel like I’m going to wake up in a minute."
£30,795 from 60p - Horses
A 60p stake saw horse racing fan Tony Savill bag himself a cool £30,795 in February 2016.
The retired electrician, aged 70 at the time, couldn't believe his luck when he bagged the win on a toteplacepot wagered at the Betfred shop in Leander Drive, Gravesend.
"It’s only just sinking in that we’ve actually won so much," he said.
"Last time I had a good win like this was in the late 70s and I won £4,000 from a lucky 15, which was a lot in those days, but this £30,000 is something else."
KMTV find out lottery winners first buy was a toilet seat
£1 million - EuroMillions raffle
Wayne and Desiree Home knew what it was like to be at rock bottom before their £1 million win in the EuroMillions Raffle.
Desiree had battled bowel cancer and the pair had both lost their jobs, were forced to sell their home and had bailiffs knocking at the door.
The win in August 2014 allowed them to buy a converted pump house beside the river, a luxury sports boat... and a soft-close toilet.
Asked whether winning the lottery had made them happier, Desiree, from East Farleigh, said: "Yes, because it has taken the stress out of everyday living."
£30,000 from £5 - Football accumulator
A Saturday afternoon walk with his wife proved fruitful for one lucky punter from Ashford in January 2015.
Because while out on their stroll, he popped into the Coral in Castle Street and put a £5 bet on the football - landing a whopping £30,000.
He was made to sweat, though, with the 14-team accumulator relying on Southampton beating Newcastle in a late kick-off.
The man, who asked not to be named, had two-goal hero Elijero Elia to thank as Saints ran out 2-1 winners.
£90,000 (split between three people) - People's Postcode Lottery
Great-grandfather-of-nine Frank Cornell discovered he was one of three neighbours to bag £30,000 not long after his 84th birthday.
The trio's luck was in when the People's Postcode Lottery came knocking in Kibbles Lane, Tunbridge Wells, in August this year.
"What a birthday present." Frank said. "Although I'll expect a cheque for every birthday now."
Neighbour Julia Bradford added: "We’ll have a nice holiday and then treat our family; we’ll make it stretch out among the grand-children and great-grandchildren."
£1 million - Lotto Millionaire Raffle
Wedding bells were set to ring a little sooner for Mick Tyler and fiancée Sarah Harmer after they bagged a cool £1 million in October last year.
Air conditioning engineer Mick had proposed in Reculver on Christmas Eve the year before, but the big day was put on hold until 2020 so the couple could save.
But after their jackpot win in the Lotto Millionaire Raffle they planned to bring it forward to September this year.
Mick, of Snodland, near Maidstone, said: “This is all so utterly mad and yet so flipping brilliant.
"Yesterday we were picking the flooring and kitchen cupboards for a lavish five-bedroom detached dream home, two weeks ago we were choosing new wallpaper for our three-bed semi."
£51,063 - Bingo
Mum-of-five Gillian Dare was left planning a huge spending spree after a staggering bingo win in September 2003.
After landing a full house in just 39 numbers, she won the National Bingo Game prize of £50,000 plus a further regional prize of £1,063 at Kings Club in the Broadway, Sheerness.
She said: "I usually play about four times a week, sometimes with my daughter. I never dreamt I would win that much.
"I just love playing the game itself and enjoy the night out."
£34,787 from £1 - Horses
Alan Jenner was packing his bags for Thailand after winning £34,787 from a £1 bet on seven horse races.
The amateur photographer from Faversham placed his each-way wager at the town's Betfred branch last November and watched it come in as he did the housework.
"When I realised my first four selections had won I started paying much more attention and was glued to the telly for last three races," he said.
"When the last horse won I leapt out of the chair and punched the air. I had a few cans of lager to celebrate that’s for sure."
£300,000 (split between nine people) - People's Postcode Lottery
Luck pensioner Marion Petts said her jackpot win earlier this month was karma for quitting smoking.
The 74-year-old, of St Martins Road, Folkestone, picked up a cheque for £60,000 after holding two tickets in the People's Postcode Lottery.
Eight neighbours with one ticket each picked up £30,000.
Marion said: "I can’t actually believe it. I started playing three years ago when I stopped smoking, so this is karma for quitting.
"It’s also grand to know quite a bit of my money has gone to charity.
“I’m going to take one of my friends on a cruise, probably around the Caribbean, where it’s nice and sunny."
£19,378.88 - Bingo
Cathy Hussey's numbers came up when she scooped almost £20,000 at Beacon bingo in Margate in December 2017.
A regular at the club, which has since closed, the pensioner from Kingsgate, Broadstairs, said she couldn't believe her luck.
"It's quite a strange feeling - it hasn't quite sunk in yet to be honest.
"I only paid £2 to play the table top bingo so I didn't even realise how much money we were playing for until the man came over and told me.
"I was shocked to find out I'd won nearly £20,000."
And the one whose luck ran out.....
£212,000 - Littlewoods Pools
Father-of-four Kevin Foster was labelled the man with the midas touch after bagging two Pools jackpots in the space of three weeks in 2003
The first win he shared with a syndicate, but the second saw him pick up a cheque for £212,000.
At the time, the former cabbie, of Doddington, near Sittingbourne, said his gambling luck had made him a millionaire.
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