An electrician from Coventry, who has dreamt of building a property portfolio since he was a schoolboy, can now realise his ambition thanks to an online million-pound EuroMillions win – the first time he had played the game.
He said a ‘voice inside his head’ told him to give it a go while out shopping!
Simon Waddup, aged 31, has planned his whole working life so that one day he would own property: he studied DT at GCSE, took work experience shadowing an electrician, worked on building sites to learn various trades, and then studied to become an electrician. Simon has even studied building planning in his spare time.
Simon said: “For as long as I can remember I have wanted to buy old properties, do them up and build my own portfolio. Friends and family laughed at my dream, especially when I was a teenager, but I was so focused, always thinking about how I would do it.
“Both I and they now can’t believe that I have got that amazing windfall that will enable me to now go after my dream.”
The electrician’s life-changing journey started while he was in a supermarket on May 19. He had the urge to buy a ticket after hearing a voice in his head that told him his luck was about to change.
He explained: “I have played Instant Win Games on The National Lottery website but never a main draw game.
“I was shopping in Aldi (Gallagher Retail Park, Coventry) and I kept hearing this voice telling me to buy a lottery ticket. It sounds daft but I had the same message even as I was going home.
“When I got back, I looked at my National Lottery account online and I had £5 left in my wallet. I didn’t even know what day it was, or what type of draw was available next, but saw I could buy a EuroMillions Lucky Dip for £2.50 so decided to buy two for that night’s draw.
“I completely forgot about it until the next morning. I was waiting for a delivery from 7am and at about 8:30am looked at my phone and saw I had a message from The National Lottery. I knew I had won something big but I couldn’t quite believe it was £1 million, and it wasn’t until I called The National Lottery hotline that I let myself believe that it was real.
“I was then in a bit of a daze, just shaking. The first person I told was my ten-year-old daughter and she asked if she could now have a passport, seeing as she has never been abroad.
“I then phoned my mum and sister and they didn’t believe me. When they finally realised I wasn’t joking, all we could talk about was that my lifelong dream would now be a reality – I could be a property developer.
The win comes at the perfect time as Simon’s health has restricted his ability to work and pursue his dream.
He said, “For all this property planning, my health has constantly held me back. I have a rare blood disorder, my blood clots a lot meaning I must take blood-thinning tablets.
“I also have a faulty heart valve and together it has meant I’ve been in and out of hospital a lot over the last few years. It has affected my ability to work, in fact I haven’t been able to work since last summer, which has been so frustrating.”
Since finding out about the win, Simon has spent time researching properties online. He has also treated himself and his daughter to some new clothes as well as splashing out on a new coffee machine.
He added: “Due to coronavirus, I can’t celebrate with my family and I can’t wait to see people and talk about the win – I will definitely be treating my family. I will also get a passport for my daughter and, when we can, take a trip abroad – she has already told me that she wants to go to Spain.”
