A retired newlywed couple from the Ottery St Mary in Devon are celebrating after becoming millionaires.
Rodney Hancock, 64, and his wife Vanessa, 60, had just set out on a holiday of a lifetime traveling around the UK and Europe in their motorhome – with their pet parrot, Jasper. The pair were due to travel to Norfolk the morning after learning they had become the guaranteed winner in the EuroMillions Millionaire Raffle on Tuesday, 26 August,
Rodney, originally from Plymouth, said: "I got a notification on my phone to tell me I'd won, but assumed it was one of the smaller amounts. It was only two or three hours later when I checked on the computer and found out how much it was! I was in shock and didn't quite believe it until I phoned The National Lottery and they confirmed it.
"As we were driving the next day we couldn't do too much celebrating but have had a few small parties with family since."
The pair took time out from their holiday to have photos taken at Borigndon Hall in Plympton.
The couple met online last August and after a whirlwind relationship they married in January of this year. They have six children between them – three sons and three daughters. As well as clearing a few debts, ex-nurse Vanessa and retired van driver Rodney have already spent some of their winnings on a brand new BMW Coupé Roadster.
Rodney said: "We've wanted a new car for a while and thought about looking at some silly ones, but we had to remember that we'll be pulling it behind the motorhome on our holiday, so I suggested a BMW. It's great – a two-seater convertible."
The couple are both members of the Exeter Lions, part of the Lions International organisation and have called their round-Europe trip Two Lions and a Parrot on Tour! The Exeter Lions, are currently fundraising for the renovation of the 'Lion's Den' children's play area at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The next leg of the tour is to explore Devon and Cornwall before heading to Spain and France when the weather starts to cool.
Rodney has played EuroMillions since it began and says he will continue to play. Every EuroMillions draw guarantees to make at least one UK player an instant millionaire. The couple's winning Raffle number was NRN735283.
