Lotto winner celebrates with village
8:07am Thursday 28th August 2008
When mother-of-two Michelle Drinkwater's numbers came up in the Lotto she thought she had won £1,000.
She matched five of the six numbers in a recent draw.
But any disappointment at missing out on the jackpot soon turned to joy when she discovered she had matched the bonus ball - and had won £121,340.
Yesterday, Michelle and her two daughters Sophie, 14, and Gemma, ten, shared their slice of luck with fellow villagers in a celebration party at Minster Lovell.
And there was a special glass of bubbly and a hug for shop assistant Mandy Havord, who sold her the winning ticket at Crescent Stores in Brize Norton Road.
Shopkeepers Linda and Dave Lewis hosted the get-together for customers, along with plenty of congratulations and the all important cheque from Lottery organisers Camelot. Mrs Lewis said: "It's got to be worth celebrating. We've never had anyone win this much before."
Michelle, a dinner lady at the village school, has already celebrated her success with a party.
Husband Paul, who works for corrugated sheet board manufacturers Smurfit at the Windrush Industrial Park, Witney, has already bought a new Vauxhall Astra.
They have also paid off most of their mortgage on their home at Drylands, Minster Lovell.
Michelle bought the ticket from her local Spar store for the main draw on Saturday August 9.
Her numbers were 9, 10, 17, 29, 33 and 40.
She said: "On the Saturday night I thought I had matched five numbers, winning £1,404.
"Paul and I were thrilled and decided we'd put the money towards a family party and some car repairs.
"It was only when I went to collect my winnings I was told that I also had the bonus ball - lucky 15 - and had won over £120,000.
"I was shaking like a leaf, I simply couldn't believe it.
"I've been doing the Lottery for 10 years, putting on £2 each week for the Saturday draw at the Spar shop.
"The highest win I've had before was £59 and a fortnight before I had £10."
The family is still determined to carry on doing the Lottery and has another celebration this Saturday for the wider family and friends on Michelle's 40th birthday.
She added: "Even though I missed the big win with just one number, I am more than happy with this."
Shop assistant Mandy said: "I've been here for about a year and it's nice to see someone win so much.
"I wish I had done the ticket myself."
Since it started in 1994, the National Lottery has created more than 2,100 millionaires.