Friday, November 14, 2014

Lotto Millionaire has no Plans to Retire

A former steeplejack from Nottingham, England, bagged a UK National Lottery jackpot four years ago, but continues to work because he believes a life of ease would bore him.

Mr. Westbury won his £7.7 million prize in 2010, but in an interview with the Nottingham Post, earlier this week, the 68-year-old admitted he still keeps a tight grip on the purse strings and said he has no intention of quitting his job as a lightning protection consultant.

"When I tried to retire for one day, I was bored—and that was just one day," Westbury said. "By midday I was tired but I hadn't done anything. I just can't see myself ever finishing work."

Thinking back though, Westbury had to admit his big win couldn't have come at a better time. He was co-owner of a lightning protection company and the business was struggling.

"Before I won, I jokingly said to my accounts manager that we would have to win the lottery; then low and behold we did!" Westbury said.

The business employed over 20 people, and Westbury was determined to protect their jobs, so he put £800,000 of his winnings into the company to help keep it afloat.

"I wanted to use some of the money to look after their jobs. They stood by me through hard times, so I thought I would stand by them," Westbury explained.

Although retirement was never on the cards, Westbury did splash out on a few luxuries such as holidays and cars, and even purchased an eight-bedroom mansion, but soon downsized to a four bedroom house because he and his wife Susan found the mansion "too big".

Mr. Westbury and his wife were among 15 lottery-winning couples who met up at Holme Pierrepont Country Park on Wednesday to celebrate 20 years of the National Lottery.