A HAMPSHIRE couple are set for a golden retirement after a one million pound lottery win.

Geoff and Judith Coombes, from Sarisbury Green, play the Lotto every Saturday and scooped the life-changing prize on the Millionaire Raffle.

Discovering they’d won on Sunday, after two sleepless nights the couple celebrated with a curry at their favourite Locks Heath restaurant Basmati, with their daughter and son-in-law.

They have already booked a holiday to Barbados for July – but will fly economy class. “That’s another holiday if you go first class, “ said Geoff.

Although Judith, 62, hasn’t bought herself anything yet, she plans on extending the conservatory at their two-bed bungalow while 64-year-old Geoff has already splashed out on a £159 Mountfield 164 push lawnmower – which had £50 off at Screwfix.

The winning ticket was one of a batch of four which the couple buy monthly.
Geoff said: “We go out every Saturday night and I always check our numbers as soon as we get home.

“Last Saturday was no different, I saw we hadn’t matched any of the six so I thought nothing more of it until I had an email the following day telling me there was news about my ticket.

“When I logged on, I couldn’t believe it. I just kept counting zeros to make sure I had it right. Judith thought it was a hoax!”

The couple have been married for 42 years and have two daughters and two twin grandsons, who were also celebrating for their fourth birthday this week. 

Geoff, a self-employed exhibition stand builder was planning on semi retiring in September when he hits 65, but said he might carry on, “as long as they don’t expect me to do it for free”.

Judith, a self-employed soft furnishings seamstress had given up work only two weeks ago.

The win means the pair will be able to enjoy their retirement without counting the pennies.

Geoff said: “This means a hell of a lot to us. We’ve always worked hard but neither of us have a private pension so we would have had to be very careful with our money when we retired.

“Now, we can just relax and enjoy life, spending time with our daughters and grandsons.”

The couple are passionate about travel are looking forward to taking several exotic holidays including a trip to Australia.

Also on the couple’s wish list is a Southampton season ticket for life-long Saints fan Geoff, and a new car.

He said: “I might get a season ticket, if there are any left. And I currently drive a work van so Judith was worried that when I retired we’d be sharing a car. She’s very pleased that it won’t come to that now.”

Having recently downsized to their bungalow in Sarisbury Green, they have no plans to move - but do plan to carry on playing, having won twenty five pounds on the lottery the week before last. 

Geoff said: “God knows what will happen next week!”