BISHOP'S STORTFORD, United Kingdom — A couple who won £101 million in the EuroMillions lottery said Tuesday they would use their winnings to marry and make up to 20 friends and family millionaires.
Dave Dawes, a shift supervisor at a food producer, and his partner Angela Dawes, a charity shop volunteer, were the only winners of Britain's third-largest lottery jackpot, worth 116 million euros or $157 million.
In a press conference, Dave Dawes, 47, said the couple went into "meltdown" as they watched the draw live on television and realised their numbers had come up.
"It was just mad, I couldn't believe my eyes," he said. "We were doing several checks that night: the TV, the website... I looked at (Angela) and said 'My god, we're the only ones!'"
It was only the third time the couple had played EuroMillions and their winning numbers were picked at random. The only number Dave deliberately chose was 18, the date of his oldest son's birthday.
The couple from Wisbech, eastern England, who are not married but have chosen to use the same name, had to wait until Monday for their win to be verified, but have already discussed how they will spend some of the money.
"My mum and dad live in Portugal so we're going to buy a house over there, we?re going to get married next year -- Dave already bought me an engagement ring but now we're going to buy a better one," Angela Dawes said.
The couple, who have been together for four years, had already been planning to marry next year, but said the wedding will now be a more glamorous affair.
Dave Dawes, an avid fan of Chelsea, said one of his first purchases will be a season ticket for the team.
The couple are also looking to swap their one-bedroom flat for a luxury property close to the club's Stamford Bridge stadium in one of London's most exclusive districts.
He said his wife-to-be has given him permission to have a games room filled with Chelsea memorabilia in their new house.
The couple said they would also happily give away much of their newfound wealth.
Angela Dawes said the couple have drawn up a list of 15 to 20 beneficiaries, which includes Dave Dawes' two grown-up sons from a previous relationship and her son from a previous relationship.
She said some of the benefactors had already been told and were "absolutely gobsmacked, amazed and in tears" at the news of their forthcoming windfall.
The couple also want to donate a portion of their winnings to charity, with children's causes set to benefit.
At the press conference, Dave Dawes officially tendered his resignation to his employers, Premier Foods. Angela Dawes said she will not return to work as a volunteer at a British Heart Foundation charity shop.
The couple said they were planning to take some time to celebrate their win, before deciding how they will share out their money -- but they said they had no intention of playing the lottery again.
In July, another British couple, Colin Weir, 64, and his wife Chris, 55, from Largs, near Glasgow, were named Europe's biggest ever lottery winners, after scooping 185 million euros £162 million in the EuroMillions jackpot.
Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
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