Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sarah Ward

Barbershop singer, 76, burst into tears after winning £1m jackpot on National Lottery

An OAP who scooped £1million on the National Lottery found out about his massive win through an app notification before bursting into tears.

John Wallman, 76, was astonished at the early morning notification on his mobile phone after having played EuroMillions via the National Lottery app.

The retired construction manager, who now spends his spare time entertaining the public and raising money for charity as part of a barbershop chorus, is planning a new house and a holiday getaway to celebrate.

He won the special EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker draw on March 25.

John, who is originally from Cornwall but now lives in Falkirk, said: "I woke up in the early hours of Saturday morning and turned on my phone.

"A notification came up from the National Lottery app but I didn't think anything of it until I sat down to breakfast later that morning.

"I read the notification and it said I had won £1,000,000 but I didn't really believe it.

"I called the National Lottery Line and even when I heard those words - 'congratulations, you're a winner' - I just couldn't take it in.

"My wife came downstairs and when she saw me in tears on the phone she thought I'd been scammed or that something bad had happened.

"I have played The National Lottery since it started and I normally buy Lucky Dips through the National Lottery app but I also had another ticket I'd bought on a whim.

He won the special EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker draw on March 25 (www.fotonick.co.uk)

"I popped into the shop on my way to tell some family members about my win and won another fiver."

John's great love is singing and he is part of Sweet Harmony Barbershop Chorus, a local group who regularly flex their vocal chords to raise funds for charity.

"I find singing so liberating and I love performing with Sweet Harmony.

"We perform for all sorts of local groups and at events.

"All we ask is for a donation then at the end of each year everything we've raised is split between six nominated charities."

Now that the news is starting to sink in, the first thing on John's to-do list is to book a holiday in the sunshine.

John's great love is singing and he is part of Sweet Harmony Barbershop Chorus (www.fotonick.co.uk)

"It's been such a rollercoaster and I get emotional every time I talk about winning so I've not really had a chance to think about what I am going to do with the money.

"Booking a holiday, perhaps a cruise, is definitely the first thing though so we can relax, unwind and make some plans.

"A new house is on the cards too. In fact, that's how I broke the news to my step-daughter.

"I said to her that we'd decided to move house. Oh and by the way I've won the lottery too! She didn't believe me for quite some time."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.