A factory worker has quit his job and is planning a spending spree after insisting his £71million EuroMillions jackpot win will change his life.
Ade Goodchild, 58, from Hereford, has his eye on a new house with a jacuzzi, “a few staff” and dream holidays to the Grand Canyon and the Pyramids.
After going public with his win on Wednesday, he said: “I’m not one of these winners who is going to say this win won’t change me. It bloody well will or at least I’ll give it a damn good go.
“There’ll be no more shift work for me. I want to travel, find myself a lovely new home, go to top sporting events, and try many other things besides.
“I’m not a gardener but I’d like a bit of space for the dogs and a nice spot for my hammock on sunny days, so it would be good to have someone to take care of the view for me. I think I could also get used to a driver and even my own cook!”
Goodchild said he celebrated his win by watching the Wales v Ireland rugby match on television with his parents while sharing a takeaway pizza and spicy chicken wings, all washed down with Italian beer.
He said he had an urge to check his ticket on Saturday, instead of waiting for Monday as usual, and did not realise he had won the jackpot at first when he scanned his ticket on the National Lottery App.
“It gave me the winning ‘ping’ sound and I thought I might have won a fiver or something,” he said.
“I’m not one of these winners who is going to say this win won’t change me. It bloody well will”
- Ade Goodchild
“But when I checked I thought hang on, it looks like I’ve won £71,000.
“I put my glasses on to double check and then spotted that it was the jackpot prize and that all my numbers were circled. I thought wow, a lot of people have shared the jackpot this week but fair play. Then I read the prize amount again and realised that it was actually £71m and just one winner – me!
“It was then that I called my mum and dad. Their reaction was one of complete shock – I still don’t think it’s sunk in for them.”
Goodchild, who is handing in his notice after working for more than 24 years at a metal factory in Hereford, will spend some of his windfall on his family who are originally from South Wales.
He said: “I am an only child and my parents have always been there for me. Like all parents, they worry about my mortgage, bills and how long I will have to work for. I’ve told my parents they can stop saving now and spend my inheritance.”