'Best thing is my children got on the property ladder' - Newcastle winner reflects on National Lottery's 30th anniversary
by Daniel Hall · ChronicleLiveA Newcastle lottery winner says that getting her children onto the property ladder is the thing that has changed her life the most.
Elaine Thompson, 68, won £2,704,666 on December 9, 1995 - her 17th anniversary with husband Derek, who was watching Newcastle United play when she found out. In the near three decades since her win, Elaine has bought four racehorses and achieved her dream of visiting every UK racecourse.
Despite her big win, the mum-of-two worked until her retirement two years ago, doing everything from managing A 17-room bed and breakfast in Lyme Regis, to running a restaurant where she worked 18 hour days. Elaine described that period "the best seven years of my life".
She told ChronicleLive: "It changed my life, of course it has, the single best thing I say is that my children got onto the property ladder and they've done incredibly well. We might not have been able to help them with all that money had we not won the lottery, and that's the single best thing."
The winnings have also enabled Elaine and Derek to take part in volunteer work where they have met other Lottery winners. She added: "Another great thing is we do voluntary days and charity projects.
"We've planted trees, painted children's homes, and all the other winners that I've met, we all like to give back."
Gosforth lass Elaine says that she and her husband are "simple people who don't really want anything big", but they are looking forward to travelling in Europe more now following their retirements. She said: "We've never been to the capital cities in Europe, we've never been to Seville, Holland or Switzerland.
"Next year, we've decided we're just going to go away at weekends or mid-week and visit all the capital cities in the world."
The couple have continued to buy Lotto tickets since the win, and Elaine has four for tomorrow night's £127m Euromillions jackpot. If she wins again, she says it will benefit more members of her family, and even her neighbours.
And there was one piece of advice she had to anyone on the fence about buying Lotto tickets. She finished: "You've got to buy a ticket because if you're not in it, you can't win it."
Elaine was one of three North-East based winners photographed by portrait artist Rankin, who has photographed figures including HRH Queen Elizabeth II and the Rolling Stones, to commemorate the Lottery's 30th anniversary. The other winners in the portrait from our region are Sarah Cockings from Whitley Bay, who won £3,045,705 in 2005; and Kate Donaghey from Newcastle, who won £1,000,000 on a Scratchcard in 2018.
Rankin said: "I am extremely lucky that I get to meet and work with extraordinary people, from famous actors and models through to NHS nurses. I remember when The National Lottery first started and it was intriguing to meet the real winners and hear their stories and experiences.
"They are normal people who have had an extraordinary thing happen to them, transforming their lives. That is what we set out to capture."
Since the first National Lottery draw on November 19, 1994, more than 7,400 people have become millionaires from its various games and more than £95 billion has been paid out in prizes. It has also raised £49 billion for projects and charities across the UK.
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