A handyman is celebrating winning the Lotto’s his Set For Life after deciding to buy a ticket on a whim.
Adrian Brennan, 69, from the Welsh Valleys, only bought a ticket because he saw a rare parking space right outside his local shop, prompting him to stop and quickly pick one up.
He hadn’t bought a ticket from the shop for a long time because every time he drove past there hadn’t been a parking space available. But luckily for him he picked one up a winning ticket that day. He is now celebrating banking £10,000 every month for a year. He plans to treat his children and grandchildren, before using the remainder of his winnings to enjoy his passions for woodwork and walking.
Adrian, from Ferndale, Mid Glamorgan, said: “I buy National Lottery tickets from lots of places. I impulse buy, but hadn’t bought a ticket from the Co-Op in Ferndale for ages because every time I have driven past there hasn’t been a car parking space available. But the day before the draw I drove past and saw a space, quickly parked and bought my usual weekly Set For Life Lucky Dip. I then drove home and forgot about it to be honest.”
Fast forward to 10pm that evening and Adrian checked the numbers on his phone. Having seen that he had matched all five main numbers he quickly phoned his daughter Stacey. He explained: “I asked her to check out the winning numbers because I thought I’d won £10,000. She said, ‘you’re joking’ then went on to check for me, saying yes but that I’d actually won £10,000 every month for a year.
“When Stacey and I finished talking it was late at night, but I celebrated and toasted my win with a can of lager. I’m quite a chilled, relaxed sort of guy so after getting over the initial shock, I signed the back of the ticket, put it on the sideboard and went to bed.” Adrian slept soundly and phoned The National Lottery the next day to claim his prize. He said, “I called mid-morning and then went out to do a few jobs, just like any other day really.”
The dad-of-two and six grandchildren says treating his family is the priority. Widower Adrian said, “I’m going to treat Stacey and my son Kerry and the grandchildren, who have already put in their requests including an electric bike, and a set of darts. I was going to buy a driving test for one grandson but he got a last-minute cancellation and passed first time last week, so I reckon I’ll help him with his car insurance.”
Pondering on what to buy for himself, Adrian wants to use the winnings to enjoy life. He said, “I love the fact I get an amount every month and can decide what to do with it. I want to change my car, I haven’t decided what car yet, but with what I have left, I want to just enjoy more time woodworking in my shed. I was a carpenter for nearly twenty years and just love working with wood. I make all sorts of things from chairs to ornaments.”
Adrian has lived in the area all his life. He added, “I’m a very proud Welshman and love the valleys. I’m very lucky to be able to live and work in this beautiful countryside. I’ve been working part-time for a while now, but I love keeping my hand in. I can turn my hands to anything from fitting windows to being a locksmith. I don’t think I will fully retire but this win will give my family and I lots of treats and a lovely cushion to enjoy a few more things in life.”
Set For Life is an exciting draw-based game from The National Lottery. You pick five main numbers from 1 to 47, and one ‘Life Ball’ from 1 to 10, for the chance to win fixed prizes – with everything from the top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years, to the 2nd prize of £10,000 a month for one year and £5 for matching just two main numbers.
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