Seaside celebration for £500,000 Thunderball winner

The 63-year-old Edinburgh man’s first stop after confirming his National Lottery win was Blackpool, a place he fell in love with as a child.

Raymond said, “For me, Blackpool has and will always be a home from home. It holds such special memories and I just love visiting a few times a year. I’ve been going there my whole life, from playing on the beach as a kid to staying with friends over the last decade, so it just had to be the place I chose to celebrate my win!”

Raymond, who retired from his job working for British Gas prior to his National Lottery win, said he first checked his winning ticket after going to bed.

He explained, “I had woken up in the middle of the night and randomly decided to check my numbers, which led me to see that I had won the top prize. I must have still been half asleep though as, in the morning, I genuinely thought it was all a dream.

“So, when I decided to have another check in the morning, this time fully awake, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that I was still a winner!”

Since his ‘dream-come-true’ win, Raymond, who has used the same Thunderball numbers since the draw first launched almost 25 years ago, has splashed out on a new car and a static caravan.

He said, “I’ve wanted a static caravan for a long time. I’ve chosen a beautiful spot on the coast, so I can’t wait to start going there with my family and friends.”

13th May 2024