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Couple Who Won £12.4M On Lottery Handed Out 30 Cheques To Loved Ones

Couple Who Won £12.4M On Lottery Handed Out 30 Cheques To Loved Ones

The couple hit the jackpot in 2010 but initially kept their big win to themselves

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A couple who won a whopping £12.4 million lottery jackpot kept their win a secret before surprising 30 friends and family with cheques.

Sharon and Nigel Mather won the Euromillions jackpot back in 2010, but initially decided to keep quiet about their big win.

After quietly celebrating their win together, hotel manager Nigel and council worker Sharon set up a spreadsheet filled with the names of their nearest and dearest, and set about delivering cheques.

PA

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Sharon said: "It wasn't about showing off.

"It was about helping the people close to us and not lying."

She added: "My husband used to be a hotel manager and he made a spreadsheet and went round to about 30 friends and family's houses.

"It was almost like Secret Millionaire.

"We made a little card and put a cheque in it and gave it to them."

I think I need friends like Sharon and Nigel, to be honest.

Sharon said husband Nigel was sure to make an important point to their loved ones when handing over the cheques.

She said: "He said, 'Whatever we have given you' - because some we had maybe just met and just gave them a token - 'please don't look at it in reflection of what we have won, just think of what difference that money will make to you.'

"We can't give it all away because we needed to look after us and we had two young children.

PA

"We've got the rest of our lives to go but wanted to make a difference to as many lives as we could along the way."

As well as helping out their family and friends, the generous couple also made charity donations and Nigel is now the chairman of local charity Stockdales.

The couple say they made sure their sons - who were just three and one at the time of their win - 'respect what people have got, never brag, and never show off'.

The mum added: "We have always said we class it as a responsibility to have that amount of money and we want to do good with it and not waste it or blow it.

"Even now at Christmas time, they don't ask for anything silly.

"In fact, they probably get less because we don't want to overly give them too much."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Lottery