Successful a lifetime-switching amount of cash is a dream harboured by several, but what is everyday living like when that really happens?

"Ray, We have three figures!"

Sat in the home over a Saturday night time, nurse Barbara Wragg had switched to the Television to obtain the National Lottery effects.

Supplying a jogging commentary to her spouse Ray, Those people a few matching figures around the couple's ticket quickly turned "4", then "5" after which you can astoundingly, the magic "six".

In just fifty percent one hour, the pair learnt they had received the £7.6m jackpot and life experienced adjusted eternally.


Recalling that second Nearly a quarter of a century on, Ray remembers: "I reported "you might be kidding me?!"

"We were stuck for what to do and what to say. We have been just flabbergasted."

A person in his eighties sits over a black couch within a front room. He's Keeping a brass-coloured trophy in The form on the Countrywide Lottery symbol
Ray Wragg and wife Barbara acquired a special trophy from lottery organisers for their philanthropy

Ray, who turns 87 on New Yr's Day, cracked open a can of Guinness, even though Barbara had a glass of wine.

The pair sang 'Who wants to be described as a millionaire' since they called their a few kids to inform them the information.

"50 percent one hour later on we rang Camelot and we discovered we might gained £seven.6m that evening," Ray suggests.

The next get in touch with roofer Ray, from Sheffield, would make was to his manager, Dave, the next early morning.

He was because of be back again at Focus on a building internet site in south Wales at 08:00 GMT on the Monday, which would have essential the then 62-12 months-previous to leave home for a 4-hour drive in the early several hours of the darkish winter early morning.

When Ray instructed him he had made a decision to retire, a shocked Dave responded by inquiring him tongue-in-cheek, "have you gained the lottery?!"

"Perfectly, Sure I've," was Ray's sincere reply.

Wraggs to riches
"I retired that Saturday evening in a few respects," Ray suggests, recalling that weekend in January 2000.

"I didn't really know what to convey but I might by no means have mentioned 'stuff your task' or just about anything like that. I am not that sort of man or woman."

While the development sector sooner or later grew to become "tiring" and concerned him travelling as much as one,000 miles each week to all four corners of the united kingdom, Ray says he enjoyed do the job.

But the possibility of retirement for him and for Barbara, who experienced worked night shifts at the Royal Hallamshire Medical center for 22 yrs, was way too very good to miss.

The very first thing Ray did Together with the winnings was buy a £52,000 white Range Rover, even though the couple also went over a glamorous cruise.

Barbara's fear of flying had Beforehand limited them to domestic vacations.

"I feel we went to Torquay for approximately twenty years over the trot - all 5 of us," Ray suggests.

Like most lottery winners, Ray and Barbara took the chance to move on some of their winnings to their children and also other kinfolk.

But it had been their generosity to other people outside their family device which would make headlines during the yrs that followed.

They reportedly gave absent most in their winnings - earning a rebuke from their fiscal advisor.


PA A couple dressed in pink and white Sheffield United shirts hold champagne flutes bearing the Nationwide Lottery logo aloft. A football bearing the Sheffield United badge is between their heads.PA
Barbara Wragg experienced labored like a nurse in Sheffield for many years
Barbara, who died of sepsis in 2018 at the age of 77, the moment publicly said their winnings have been "far too much for 2 people".

"We had individuals say 'do you not want to keep it for yourselves?'" Ray says now.

"But we had been within our sixties (at time) and we created a good deal of individuals pleased."

Tens of thousands was specified absent for the hospital where by Barbara had labored, and also towards the area children's medical center.

There was also £12,000 to allow Environment War Two veterans to return to Monte Cassino in Italy in 2004, 60 yrs following Allied Forces gained an important victory there.

The pair had been still left touched by a some of the correspondence they received afterwards, which involved letters from widows of troopers who experienced died to the battlefield.


A person in his eighties sits over a black sofa in the front room. He is holding a black espresso mug. A lampshade is during the history.
Ray suggests the lottery adjusted his and Barbara's lives, but not them as people today
A further act of philanthropy stands out in Ray's head.

"We picked up the Sheffield Star newspaper one particular night, in addition to a younger lad of eleven or 12 experienced saved his funds up to buy a motorcycle," he recollects.

"He'd gone in the park and these three lads had operate off with it and remaining him, the inadequate lad."

The Wraggs experienced a mountain bicycle they'd barely employed and so termed up the Star to create หวย วัน นี้ connection with the boy's household so they could give it to him.

"You can't purchase the expression on his face," Ray states. "He was leaping up and down for Pleasure and Driving up and down, as you'd probably for those who were a kid."

The couple's charity operate acquired them a Distinctive trophy from Camelot in 2002, in addition to invitations to Buckingham Palace and also the Satisfaction of Britain awards.

They rubbed shoulders with Richard Branson, Princess Diana's former butler and also the Coronation Avenue Forged, but Ainsley Harriott stands out in Ray's head as among the list of "nicest" superstars the couple achieved.


Sheffield United supporter Ray even now goes swimming at his nearby leisure centre a few early mornings every week and he remains a Bramall Lane standard on the weekends.

He insists he is in no way experienced any trouble from folks since that vast earn twenty five many years in the past.

"All they have needed to do if they us in the street is rub our shoulder for a little bit of luck and thank us for what we've accomplished for the children.

"We've had an amazing time and aided a good deal of men and women," he smiles.

Ray claims he and Barbara remembered their roots and might have remained satisfied individuals even experienced they not gained the lottery.

"I used to be Operating, Barbara was Operating, the youngsters have been Operating," he suggests. "We had been all right.

"Like other family members do, we saved up.

"It altered our life although not us as individuals.

"Which is stood us in great stead. I however examine the cost of a set of socks you realize!"

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