Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Lynn Love & Sian Traynor

Scottish pensioner's £1m lottery win had him 'in tears' after scooping huge jackpot

A Scottish pensioner shared he cried tears of joy after scooping a whopping £1,000,000 on the lottery.

John Wallman, 76, had been playing the National Lottery for years, and finally got his money back after coming out top in the draw on March 25.

Blown away from his winnings, the Falkirk pensioner explained his Lotto app had popped up with a notification to inform him of the incredible news.

READ MORE - Edinburgh Morrisons shopper amazed after discovering diamond ring in box of eggs

Entering the special EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker, John said the notification had said he was a winner, but it was only later that day that he went on to check how much he had won.

Shocked at the true enormity of his luck, he 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.

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

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, reports the Record.

He said: "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."

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."

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
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.