Lotto millionaires Chris and Julie Jeffery celebrated the 20th anniversary of their jackpot win - by slaving away in a hot kitchen.
The grandparents bagged more than £1 million in July 2002 and went on a globe-trotting trek around the world.
But instead of supping champagne to mark two decades since the life-changing win, they whipped up a summer lunch for the staff and volunteers at the Watford Women’s Centre (WWC).
The kind hearted couple - who have two children and three grandchildren - wrote a list of those they would like to help after their win.
And over the past 20 years they’ve volunteered their time to a host of good causes.
Julie, 61, who still works as a chef in a fire station, from Watford, said: “It’s hard to believe that it’s 20 years since our win, it’s been one hell of a ride.
“We’ve had so much fun, made lots of new friends along the way and the memory bank is bursting at the seams.
“It’s almost impossible to list all the wonderful experiences we’ve enjoyed thanks to our win, from an Alaskan cruise to simply waking up every day knowing we are financially secure - we have never taken a single second of it for granted.
“The moment soon after the win when we wrote out a series of cheques for those closest to us was so special. And in many ways, helping others has been something of a surprise bonus to the win, not just the financial support we could offer but being able to give up our time.
“We’ve had the chance to volunteer with so many incredible organisations that have received National Lottery funding, from building a garden at the National Memorial Arboretum, organising a Christmas party for young carers through to painting a gingerbread house for a children’s hospice and now, catering an office-warming at Watford Women’s Centre.
“Being able to see first-hand where the money raised by people, like us, playing the National Lottery, has been one of the greatest pleasures.”
Chris, 66, and Julie won £1,038,997 in the Lotto jackpot but carried on working.
Chris retired in 2017 as a kitchen planner, but Julie kept her job as a chef at Garston Fire Station where she has worked for 24 years.
And despite the huge win, the couple still live in the same family home in Watford.
Chris said: “Some people might think a suitable Lotto win anniversary would be Champagne on a tropical beach, but not us.
“Julie is a cook at Garston Fire Station - a job she thought she’d ‘do for a bit’ but is still at 24 years later as she loves it so much – and the team there very kindly lent us their kitchen so, instead of quaffing Champagne, we were peeling, chopping and mixing an array of salads and tasty morsels.”
Fiona Miller, chief executive at the Lottery-funded Watford Women’s Centre, was amazed when Chris and Julie volunteered to cater the organisation’s office warming celebrations.
She said: “We have recently completed a massive renovation of our building on Market Street.
“We wanted to celebrate everything that had been achieved with a lunch but couldn’t have envisaged anything on this scale! It’s just so kind that these local lottery winners are happy to give up their time in this way, we feel honoured.
“Not only has it been wonderful for the team to take time out from their incredibly busy day, it’s also been great to showcase the result of National Lottery funding which was especially important to us during Covid.
“Without the support of The National Lottery I don’t believe Watford Women’s Centre would be here today.”
Lottery-funded Watford Women’s Centre MyAlly project, which received £273,370 of funding over three years, is a relationship and domestic abuse support helpline manned by volunteers who have lived experiences of domestic abuse.
