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It won't change me, says £25m lottery winner

John Fahey,Press Association
Tuesday 16 June 2009 12:02 BST
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Lottery winner Brian Caswell will not let his £25 million jackpot change his life, he said today - but he will buy a flash car and go to Rio.

The 74-year-old, who scooped half the jackpot on the EuroMillions draw, said he and wife Joan, 72, would not move far from their modest home in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Today the couple spoke of their win, which will secure the futures of their two daughters and four grandchildren.

Mr Caswell, a retired export manager, revealed the reaction of his local shopkeeper when he handed in the lucky ticket.

Speaking to international media this morning, he said: "I had won £10 the week before so walked in all confident and said to the lad 'I'm on a roll - here's another winner'.

"When he scanned the ticket his mouth dropped open and he went a little ashen.

"He called for his boss to verify the numbers and told me to contact Camelot.

"I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't even read the numbers on the ticket he gave me, so I headed home to get it into focus."

The new multi-millionaire was so excited he then struggled to get in touch with Camelot and had to phone his youngest daughter to come round and help him.

After going through security checks, the family were told they had won a staggering £24,951,269.40.

They were dumbstruck, said Mr Caswell.

After discovering their win, the couple stayed in on Saturday night and Mr Caswell tried to keep his feet on the ground with a trip to the couple's allotment on Sunday morning.

Rumours of a local winner were circulating and he was amused to hear fellow gardeners joking that the winner would not be "up here digging the soil" after landing nearly £25 million.

The couple, their two daughters, Helen, 48, and Angela, 44, their partners and four grandchildren met on Sunday evening for a pre-planned birthday celebration where they also marked their new- found wealth.

The pensioners want to move to a farm with stables and enough property for the whole family.

But they insisted they want to stay nearby.

Mr Caswell said: "This is a family win. Both my daughters are horse fanatics and would love to have a house with a stable.

"I will look to get a farm somewhere else with three houses where we can all live.

"It will transform all our lives and it is a lovely feeling to know that we can help out all the people close to our hearts."

But for fun?

Mr Caswell said he will splash out on a pricey Range Rover Vogue - whereas Mrs Caswell is contemplating spending a fortune on getting her hair and make-up done.

Mr Caswell said: "I travelled a lot for work but never got to go to South America and I have always wanted to go to Rio.

"Joan isn't a keen flyer but it will be much easier to persuade her now we can afford to go in the front of the plane.

"Also, I would like to stand at the foot of Everest. I once flew over it and would love to see it from the other end."

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