Everyone loves Friday afternoons and thinking about winding down to a relaxing weekend with the family – but for Congleton dad and granddad Dave Meigh, on Friday marked the beginning of a new chapter in life.
A late afternoon phone call from Hits Radio presenter Gemma Atkinson was answered by Mr Meigh as he prepared for the weekend with wife Debra and their daughters, and the news which she delivered – that he had won £550,000 – was met with screams of disbelief after an initial stunned silence.
Mr Meigh, (65), explained: “We were just in the living room when I answered the call. I was speechless as soon as I recognised Gemma’s voice – we’re regular listeners, so I immediately knew it was her as she spoke.
“I had been entering the competition for a while, but it’s the last thing on your mind when answering the phone.
“When she said the amount, my mind was just spinning. I didn’t believe it was at all real until I saw the money in our account about half an hour later. This will change our lives beyond comprehension.”
After a 49-year career in retail, Mr Meigh initially retired a few years ago but had to return to work to the financial pressures of a young family.
He said: “I’ve worked really hard all my life. I’ve had to make sure we had enough to see the girls on their way, so now this changes everything – not just for me, but for all the family.”
Back to Friday night and the Meighs decided that a celebration was in order, so de-camped to the pub where they toasted their good fortune.
Mr Meigh admitted: “We probably had one or two more than we should have, but if there was ever a night for it, that was it!”
As for immediate plans, a pre-booked few days away to Scotland was quickly rearranged with Mr Meigh instead treating his wife to some Spanish sunshine and a last-minute flight to Majorca to enjoy the last weekend of summer.
There are plans afoot for a house move, after an initial downsize in property a couple of years ago left the family with too little space. A holiday last year also had to be cancelled after the couple realised they couldn’t afford to take all the family as they had originally planned.
Mrs Meigh said: “We’ve really had to juggle things as per financial demands on our family budget. One of the first things we’ve done is re-book the holiday for next year, which will be really special as we don’t have many years left where our teenage girls will want to come with us.
“They’re getting older and are going off to do things with their friends, so we’ll now get the opportunity to make more memories with them while we can.”
As for what comes next, Mr Meigh insisted that the family will keep their feet on the ground.
“We’re not suddenly changing everything – we’re just a normal family who’ve had a bit of luck. But it’s enough to take the pressure off and enjoy life properly. And that, to me, is priceless.”
Lightning probably never strikes twice but readers can go to winhappy.com or listen to a station on the Rayo app for a chance to win a life-changing amount of money.
