This beach clean is ‘litter-ally’ a job for millionaires

The millionaire litter pickers, including Fred Higgins, from Perthshire, who scooped £57.9MMillion on EuroMillions in 2018, spent a morning scouring Troon Beach for litter and waste. Working with the environmental project Keep Scotland Beautiful, they got an insight into the types of rubbish which are found dropped or washed up on the shoreline and its impact on wildlife. In particular, they heard how tiny nurdles – colourful, pea-sized pieces of plastic – can be devastating to marine animals.

The group focussed its efforts on South Beach and came away with several sacks of rubbish ranging from plastic bottles and caps to string, rope, fishing line, wet wipes, plastic toys, cans, cigarette ends and an array of other plastics.

The litter pick felt personal to Alison and John Doherty from Renfrewshire, who won £14MMillion on Lotto in 2016. Alison, who used to visit the area as a child, said, “It has been a truly wonderful experience working alongside Keep Scotland Beautiful. The coastline is close to my heart and Keep Scotland Beautiful has really made me think even further about all of the little things which we can all do to ensure we are all living in the best possible environments.”

EuroMillions winner Fred Higgins added, “I cannot believe some of the items which we have picked up. It really is quite unbelievable what can be washed up on our beautiful beaches. The beaches are here for everyone and it is just fabulous to get involved in such a worthwhile project which so many people will benefit from!”

Joining Fred, Alison and John, were: Libby Elliot, from Fife, who won £2.2M on Lotto in 2012; Pam and Jim Forbes, from Fife, who won £665,000 on EuroMillions in 2017 and Brian and Ann Sharp, from East Lothian, who won £2MMillion on Lotto, in 2010.

Others in the team were: Barry and Roberta Little, from Dumfries, who won £1MMillion on Lotto in 2013; Ken and Jeanette Wedgeworth, from Loch Ryan, who won £1MMillion on EuroMillions in 2016 and Fiona and Bill McKenna, from Dunbartonshire, who won £1.2MMillion on Lotto in 2012. Also filling rubbish sacks were: Jake and Barbara Bowman, from Forfar, who won £10.3MMillion on Lotto in 2016; Alan and Claire Gray, from Tranent, who won £1MMillion on EuroMillions in 2019 and Steve Glover, from Lybster, who won £1MMillion on Lotto last year.

Barry Fisher, CEO at Keep Scotland Beautiful (a project that has received £1.7MMillion of National Lottery funding) joined the millionaire litter pickers on the beach. He said, “It has been a very successful morning and we have really enjoyed working with the local National Lottery winners to help make a difference to this stretch of much-loved coastline.

“Our charitable work aims to inspire behaviour change to improve our environment, the quality of people’s lives, their well-being and the places they love. By carrying out litter picks we help to keep Scotland just that little bit more beautiful for us all – and I would like to thank everyone for their support.”

2nd July 2024