A couple from Lancashire who won a whopping £61 million jackpot in the EuroMillions have been publicly named for the first time.
It’s officially Richard and Debbie Nuttall’s lucky day… or we should say lucky life, more like.
The winning couple – who are both 54, from the Lancashire town of Colne, and have been happily married for 30 years – scooped a share of the mega £123 million EuroMillions jackpot in the draw on 30 January earlier this year, and took home a total of £61,708,231.
The Nuttalls were actually on holiday in Fuerteventura celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary when they found out about their life-changing lottery win.
Apparently, the pair mistakenly thought they had only won a measly £2.60, due to some confusion with reading their bank balance, only to find out it was quite the opposite – which led to them being, understandably, “totally stunned”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“You dream of winning the lottery, but you never think it’s going to be you,” Mr Nuttall told the media at a press conference at Mitton Hall in Whalley, near Clitheroe, yesterday.
Mr Nuttall explained that he was checking his emails while on holiday last year when he found a message from the National Lottery saying he had a £2.60 win in his account, and when he told his wife, she comically responded: “Woo hoo, we can get a bacon butty with that.”
ADVERTISEMENT
But it turns out, they could actually afford quite a bit more than breakfast.
After receiving the initial message, the couple then went out for the day to explore the stunning Spanish island, before returning to their hotel room only to find another National Lottery message asking them to check the account again.
“I looked and it said ‘you’ve won £61,708,231’, ring this number,” Mr Nuttall admitted, and although he couldn’t quite believe it, the win turned out to be true.
ADVERTISEMENT
So, what’s next for the Nuttalls then? What are they planning to do with their winnings.
Well first, the “dazed” couple have admitted that they have no plans to continue working, with Mrs Nuttall already handing her notice in and Mr Nuttall set to do the same at the end of this tax year, and are already in the process of buying a new house and upsizing to a home that has more room and outdoor space for them and their dog to enjoy.
Mr Nuttall said their lives are going to be “so different” now.
He continued: “We have worked hard all our lives and we are now very much looking forward to taking life a bit easier. But not just that, this win will also change the lives of those closest to us, and hopefully the next generation after that too.”
The Nuttalls also revealed they’ll be making a considerable donation from their winning amount to a charity close to their’s and their family’s hearts – BK’s Heroes, which was set up in their nephew, Ben King’s, memory after he died of a rare condition called Tubular Interstitial Nephritis and Uveitis at the age of 27.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This charity means so much to our family and we are all involved,” Mr Nuttall concluded.
Mancs stunned as Northern Lights glow above Greater Manchester in rare solar storm
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime display of the Northern Lights overnight.
The skies above our region lit up in shades of pink and green in a shimmering spectacle that had the nation stunned.
The Northern Lights are normally only visible much further north, with many travelling to countries like Iceland and Norway to catch a glimpse – but last night, the show came to Manchester.
It’s all been caused by a ‘severe solar storm, which hit Earth on Friday night, and may continue into Saturday.
Space weather experts issued the rare geomagnetic storm warning – the first in 20 years – on Friday.
But most of us were blown away to actually see the Northern Lights dancing over Manchester.
The huge solar storm predicted by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) supercharged the Aurora Borealis.
They said that ‘additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend’.
Then here comes the science: “A large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday at 5am ET.
“At least five flares were associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that appear to be Earth-directed. SWPC forecasters will monitor NOAA and NASA’s space assets for the onset of a geomagnetic storm.
“CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth.
“Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations.
“SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action.
“Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth.”
If you look to the skies over Manchester tonight, there’s a chance you’ll see the Northern Lights again.
Just try not to cry as much as we did.
In pictures – the Northern Lights over Manchester
Joyful as a big kid. Mesmerising. Real life moment, never seen them before. Anyone else looking up? pic.twitter.com/a7B4kqBkfY
— NOT QUITE LIGHT – NQL (@NotQuiteLight) May 10, 2024
A young cancer survivor is taking on the Great Manchester Run for the hospital that saved her life
Danny Jones
A former cancer patient from Manchester who was diagnosed at the age of just 17 is taking on this year’s Great Manchester Run on behalf of The Christie, the hospital she credits with helping save her life.
24-year-old Lea Abell from Failsworth is set to run the event for the first time on Sunday, 26 May to raise funds for The Christie Charity where she now works after completing her treatment.
Lea was sadly diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma cancer back in March 2017 and had to undergo intense chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment at The Christie’s TYA (Teenage and Young Adult) unit.
Thankfully, she showed plenty of Manc spirit even at such a young age and in September 2018, Lea was told her treatment had been successful and is now looking to dedicate her efforts this May to the local life-saving institution.
Lea (Credit: The Christie)Credit: The Manc Group)Thousands took on the Great Manchester Run in honour of the Christie in 2023 (Credit: The Christie/The Manc Group)
After so much support and care from The Christie during her time there, the youngster decided that she wanted to give back and be a part of it all herself, going on to become part of the foundation’s mass participation events team – hence where the Great Manchester Run comes in.
Speaking on the hospital and the ward she spent her time in, specifically, Lea said: “The TYA, where do start? They are absolutely amazing! Every single member of staff from Julie the receptionist to Hanna Simpson, the head nurse and all of the other doctors and nurses were incredible.
“They make you feel so at home, and they support you mentally and physically throughout your treatment – they are all so positive, so you don’t feel like you’re going there for cancer treatment. I really wouldn’t have got through it if it wasn’t for the people there, so I owe them everything!
“Hanna and Julie always went out of their way to check up on me and tried to make my days better in any way they could, and I’ll never forget that.” Having turned up with the events team to the Great Manchester Run last year and seeing what a “brilliant day” it was, she decided 2024 was her year.
She’s becoming the latest among the hordes who run on behalf of The Christie at events across the globe every year.
Having only recently started her running journey this year and with the popular running event just around the corner, it’ll be a massive achievement for the young survivor and her team at the charity, with plenty of people backing her and a simple aim in mind: raise as much money as possible.
Lea has only recently started her running journey this year, so to take on the Great Manchester Run will be a big achievement for her, but she has plenty of people in her corner.
She went on to add: “My immediate family includes my mum Nicola, my dad Gary, and my brother and sister Jake and Sophia who were all there for me during treatment, and they will be there on the day of the Great Manchester Run to cheer me on alongside my other family members and friends.”
You’re going to absolutely smash it, Lea, we know it.
As for the charity themselves, The Christie’s mass participation events development manager, Lindsey Farthing, added: “Lea is a valuable member of our team and we’re all really touched that she has chosen to run the Manchester 10K for our charity.
To have a member of staff in our team who has been treated at The Christie and wants to give something back to the organisation that saved her life is really special for us all. We couldn’t be prouder of her and we wish her all the very best.”
If you want to help do your bit, you can donate to Lea’s fundraiser HERE and be sure to turn up in your droves come race day to cheer her on along with the thousands of runners raising money for charity.