REVEALED: £71M Euromillions winner from Hereford is...

A factory worker from Hereford has vowed to take early retirement and sample the ‘high life’ after he discovered he was the sole winner of last Friday’s £71,057,439 EuroMillions Jackpot.

The lucky man, Ade Goodchild (58), who is in the process of handing in his notice after working for more than 24 years at a local metal factory in Hereford, vows to treat the family as well as experience all life can offer him.

“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! They’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.”

Ade was checking his EuroMillions tickets on Saturday morning when he realised he might have had a bit of luck but it took him a while to work out just how lucky he was. Ade explains, “I don’t normally check my ticket until Monday but I had an urge early Saturday morning and decided to scan my ticket on the National Lottery App. It gave me the winning ‘ping’ sound and I thought I might have won a fiver or something. 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 £71 million 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”.

Ade celebrated his win later that day by watching the Wales vs Ireland rugby match on television with his parents whilst sharing a takeaway pizza and spicy chicken wings, all washed down with Italian beer.

Ade believes his biggest pleasure will come from helping out his family. Starting with treating his parents to a new home. “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!”

Ade, whose family are originally from South Wales, now plans to help his extended family so they can enjoy life. Ade and his parents even met up with some of the family on Sunday but he kept the news of his enormous win a secret the whole day. Ade explains: “Me and my cousins often get together and the date was already in the diary last Sunday to meet for lunch. I must have come across very emotional but I couldn’t tell them about the win. I didn’t want to spoil our day! Most of them know now though. I am going to enjoy sitting down and chatting about how I might be able to help them.”

Other items on Ade’s wish list include a new home ideally with swimming pool and Jacuzzi plus a few staff to help run it. “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!”

Dream travel destinations include The Grand Canyon and the Pyramids in Egypt plus Ade is looking forward to watching live cricket and rugby not just at home but around the world.

Ade bought his winning ticket from The Co-op, Ledbury Road in Hereford and the winning EuroMillions numbers from the draw on Friday 15 March 2019 were 03, 15, 24, 42, 46, and Lucky Stars 09 and 12. 

The National Lottery changes the lives of winners as well as communities across the UK – players raise, on average, over £30m for National Lottery-funded projects every week.

For more information on National Lottery funding please visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk.